WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott released an executive order Saturday instructing the Florida adjunct general to take immediate actions to secure Florida Guardsmen.
The order was issued to protect Florida National Guard personnel who work in recruiting centers in the wake of the Tennessee shooting where five military members were killed.
"I'll do everything I can to take care of our National Guard," Scott said during a news conference in West Palm Beach.
The governor's executive order directs Florida Adjunct General Michael Calhoun to take three immediate actions:
- Relocate all Florida National Guard personnel at the state's six storefront recruitment centers to the nearest Florida National Guard Armory until there are recommendations made to improve the security of store-front recruitment centers.
- Begin discussions with local law enforcement agencies to arrange regular security checks for Florida National Guard armories
- Ensure that all qualified full-time guardsmen are adequately armed for their personal protection.
"They will not be reopened until we're comfortable that our National Guard members are safe," Scott said.
Scott said he also wants National Guardsmen to be armed.
"I don't want anything like what happened in Tennessee to happen here," Scott said.