# Civilians pretending they're guarding recruiters **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 23, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilians-pretending-theyre-guarding-recruiters/725929 "2015-07-23T04:55:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilians-pretending-theyre-guarding-recruiters/725929/1 "2015-07-23T04:55:41Z")
News report [here](http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/22/after-tennessee-shootings-armed-citizens-guard-recruiters/21212334/) about “Armed citizens guard recruiters after Tennessee shootings”. This is a bad idea all around. First off: the recruiters already have an armed force responsible for protecting them. It’s called the police. Yes, I know that the police can’t stop every lunatic with a weapon. I also know that these lunatics with guns pretending they’re guarding the recruiters also can’t stop every other lunatic with a gun. Next: How soon do you think it’s going to be when one of these “citizen guards” decides to flex his muscles/brandish his weapon/otherwise attempt/actually even take a shot at/kill someone who has legitimate business in the recruiter’s office (such business could even be applying for enlistment or commissioning) who just happens to fit the good American image that the “citizen guard” has. This is not a display of American values. It’s a display of stupidity in America. And it’s dangerous. Oh, I forgot to mention when I think some poor sod’s going to get shot for “not looking American enough”: before this next weekend’s over". --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civilians-pretending-theyre-guarding-recruiters/725929)._