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Branstad authorizes further security at National Guard sites

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July 22nd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is authorizing the Iowa National Guard to increase security and arm additional personnel at facilities, including recruiting stations. Branstad said Wednesday he was authorizing Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr to strengthen security, but would leave the decisions to Orr’s discretion. Earlier this week, Branstad asked Orr to review the current security measures at National Guard sites.

The Republican governor also plans to ask the federal government to review the protections at all military facilities. He’ll make that request during a meeting this week in Washington for a group of governors who advise federal officials on security matters.

Last Thursday, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez opened fire at a military recruiting office and a Navy-Marine operations center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, killing four Marines. A sailor wounded in the attack died Saturday.