TN Senator: Guardsmen Who Fire Own Guns During Terrorist Attacks Shouldn’t Be Sued

  A state lawmaker wants to protect Tennessee National Guard members from lawsuits if they try to use their own handguns to stop a terrorist attack.

Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, plans to introduce the measure by January. He says he’s developing it in consultation with Major General Max Haston.

The Tennessee Guard commander
has agreed to let Guardsmen carry
their own handguns. But Haston
adds that, under current state law, they could be legally liable for injuries if they fire them.

The debate over arming military personnel stems from the July 16th
shootings in Chattanooga. Even though most sailors aren’t allowed to carry sidearms on U.S. installations, officer
Tim White has said he fired a personal handgun
at attacker Mohammad Youssef
Abdulazeez
.

Earlier this month, Stars & Stripes reported Lt. Cmdr
. White is
unlikely to face charges
, despite violating military policy. An
online petition
calling for him to be honored has gathered 25,000 signatures.