Kasich approves arming recruiters

ST. MARYS - Action by Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday will put a weapon in the hand of a recruiter at a local National Guard post.

The governor authorized personnel at Ohio National Guard recruitment centers to carry weapons and ordered a review of security policies after the shootings last week in Chattanooga, Tenn., which killed four Marines and a sailor.

Ohio law previously prohibited the carrying of weapons on state-owned property such as the National Guard armory/recruiting office on East South Street in St. Marys. The post is home to Alpha Company, 37th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, an engineering unit.

ONG spokeswoman Maj. Nicole Ashcroft told the newspaper that one recruiter is assigned to the St. Marys site, which also is used by soldiers for meetings, training exercises and other events.

"This (governor's order) will allow the recruiter to carry a weapon," she said.

Other members of the local armory would not be allowed to carry weapons, at least not yet, she said.

"I'm sure this is something they're (ONG officials) going to be discussing," she said. "We realize this shooting wasn't just a recruiter office thing. It can happen anywhere."

Although a lot of paperwork needs to be drafted to change Ohio law and ONG policies, Ashcroft said changes should occur quickly.

"We're going to be working on this fast and furious to make this happen in a week or two," she said.

Following Kasich's authorization, Maj. Gen. Mark Bartman, the adjutant general of Ohio, granted the order to update policies and training requirements for the recruiting centers and a review of all security measures.

"The governor has made it very clear that we must take action to protect our members who are actively engaged in public recruitment efforts," Bartman said. "We are updating our policies and strengthening small firearm training so that those men and women staffing our recruitment offices may protect themselves in the event of a threat."

Several other states also have authorized Guardsmen to carry weapons after the deadly shooting. One of the men killed was a sailor who grew up in Paulding in northwest Ohio; another was a Marine whose father lives in central Ohio.

ONG officials after the shooting in Tennessee temporarily moved eight personnel from its four storefront recruitment offices in Columbus, Dayton, Findlay and Painesville to nearby armories.

The state has 77 recruiting centers across Ohio; most are at armories or Guard bases, Ashcroft said.

- The Associated Press contributed to this story.