Guardsmen should be armed for safety

The growing number of deadly shootings in the nation guarantees no end is in sight for conversations about gun control and gun-free zones.

In the wake of July's Chattanooga shooting in which four Marines and a sailor were killed, Missouri's Republican Caucus says it's time to arm Missouri National Guardsmen, and state Sen. Wayne Wallingford agrees.

The request for Gov. Jay Nixon to sign an executive order to arm the Guard is a wise one. Our service members are among the best trained in firearms, and they risk their lives fighting to keep America and her allies safe.

What a tragedy it is when they are rendered helpless on their own soil because we refuse to allow them to defend themselves.

As quoted in the Southeast Missourian, Wallingford asserted that "you can't find a more highly qualified professional than our United States military, the reserves and the National Guardsmen, and they're trained in the handling of weapons continually."

That training must be better harnessed. Americans have been told repeatedly that terrorists -- whether those functioning as part of an organization or operating as "lone wolves" -- have become inspired to attack United States military members. And they're no fools; they're aware that we have placed servicemen and women in gun-free zones, stripping them of the means to protect themselves and others.

In the midst of violence, which we are seeing at an alarming rate, many are saying, "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." Well, there is no better representative of a good guy than the guy -- or gal -- wearing a U.S. military uniform.

We humbly call on Gov. Jay Nixon to follow the example of governors in various other states who have determined not to allow the best among us to be soft targets. We call upon him to sign that executive order to arm our National Guard.