Hudson Supports Service Members' Right to Protect Themselves

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) joined Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50) to introduce a bill to empower eligible service members to protect themselves at military recruitment facilities:

“At a time when terrorists such as Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez are killing Americans on American soil, our federal government is foolishly disarming our service members at recruitment centers. These patriots have the proper training and are trusted to protect us overseas - they should not have their hands tied behind their backs to defend themselves when they are serving here at home. Renee and I join the nation in mourning the deaths of our brave Sailor and Marines in Chattanooga, and I will continue to work to keep their fellow men and women in uniform safe both at home and abroad.”

Following last week’s deadly terrorist attack when four unarmed Marines and one unarmed sailor tragically lost their lives at a recruitment center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Rep. Hudson joined Rep. Hunter to introduce the Securing Military Personnel Response Firearm Initiative Act. Our service members are targets and must be kept safe, but most are barred from carrying military-issued firearms at recruitment centers by a 1992 Department of Defense Directive.

The SEMPER FI Act allows the military to authorize recruiters to be armed when they’re at recruitment centers or allows them to improve structural security at recruitment centers.