Air Force To Allow Personal Weapons

A review of active shooter cases by the Air Force has confirmed what gun rights advocates have long been saying: Firearms in the hands of good guys are often the best bet for stopping massacres.The military branch earlier this month sent out a letter to its base commanders around the nation reminding them that they can authorize subordinates to carry guns, even while off-duty and out of uniform. It also established three programs to help ensure that armed service members are in a position to protect their bases."None of these programs gives the installation commander authorizations they didn't already have the authorization to do," Maj. Keith Quick, the Air Force Security Forces Integrated Defense action officer, said in a statement according to Military.com. "We are now formalizing it and telling them how they can use these types of programs more effectively."The memo followed a review by the Air Force of “active-shooter incidents across the country,” which was spurred by last July's attack on a recruiting office and nearby reserve center in Chattanooga, Tenn., in which four Marines and a Navy sailor were killed.

In that attack, Muhammad Youseef Abdulazeez's rampage only ended when responding police shot him. But an ensuing investigation determined that the base's commanding officer fired at Abdulazeez with his personal weapon and one of the murdered Marines had an unauthorized 9-mm. Glock on him when he was killed.In the aftermath of the shooting, questions were raised regarding one of the military officers involved in the shootout, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Timothy White, and if charges would be filed against him for discharging a firearm on federal property. Nothing has been formally filed."The investigation is still working its way through the leadership process," Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman, a spokeswoman for the Navy tells FoxNews.com.Past reports have suggested that charges will not be filed against White.Read the full story at FOX News[mwi-cat-listing cat="94" ppp="4" cols="4" desc="false" type="view" btn_color="black" ]