Sen. Jerry Moran will introduce bill to end ‘gun-free zones’ at military recruiting centers

U.S. Jerry Moran’s office announced Monday that the Hays Republican plans to introduce legislation to eliminate “gun-free zones” at U.S. military bases and recruitment centers.

Moran’s announcement comes four days after a gunman opened fire on military recruiting office in Chattanooga, Tenn., killing five people. Many recruiting centers are gun-free zones under current military regulations and the policy has come under widespread criticism from Republicans in the wake of the attack.

Moran’s proposal would allow active military duty personnel, including recruiters, to carry weapons for self-defense while on American soil, according to Moran’s office.

“If the members of our Armed Forces at the Chattanooga military recruitment centers had been allowed to exercise their 2nd Amendment Rights, the outcome of the attacks could have been very different,” Moran said in a statement. “These brave individuals must be empowered to defend themselves and others from violence and acts of domestic terrorism.”

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 1:28 PM with the headline "Sen. Jerry Moran will introduce bill to end ‘gun-free zones’ at military recruiting centers."