CBS Notes Governors Allowing Natl. Guardsmen to Carry Personal Weapons On Duty; ABC, NBC Ignore Story

July 20th, 2015 8:41 PM

All three broadcast network evening newscasts on Monday had stories related to last week's spree shooting in Chattanooga that left four Marines and one sailor dead.

But only CBS reported how the governors of seven states thus far are authorizing National Guardsmen to concealed-carry their own personal firearms while on state National Guard property.

Adriana Diaz filed her story from Indianapolis, Indiana. Here's the transcript:  

CBS
Evening News
July 20, 2015

6:40 p.m. Eastern; 1 minute, 5 seconds.

CHARLIE ROSE, substitute anchor: Now to beefed-up security at military sites around the country. Adriana Diaz has that part of the story for us from Indianapolis. 

ADRIANA DIAZ, correspondent: Indiana governor Mike Pence authorized National Guard troops in his state to carry personal weapons on base. 

Gov. MIKE PENCE (R-Ind.) I will not permit our citizen soldiers to remain unable to defend themselves. 

DIAZ: The Pentagon controls who's allowed to carry firearms on U.S. military installations like the recruitment center and Marine/Navy facility where Mohammod Abdulazeez opened fire Thursday. The National Guard, however, also falls under the command of state governors. Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Gilbert oversees military support for the Indiana National Guard. 

Lt. Col. DANIEL GILBERT: This has been well-received by our soldiers and it's something that will make our soldiers safer. 

DIAZ: Six other states have authorized their Guardsmen to be armed. Florida governor Rick Scott. 

Gov. RICK SCOTT:  And I don't want anything like what happened in Tennessee to ever happen here. 

DIAZ: Here in Indiana, the policy is voluntary. Charlie, soldiers will not be forced to be armed.