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TN Senator: Guardsmen Who Fire Own Guns During Terrorist Attacks Shouldn't Be Sued

A state lawmaker says Guardsmen shouldn't be legally liable if they fire their handguns during a terrorist attack. Major Gen. Max Haston, speaking in photo above, says they might be sued if a bystander is injured.
TN Photo Services (File Photo)
A state lawmaker says Guardsmen shouldn't be legally liable if they fire their handguns during a terrorist attack. Major Gen. Max Haston, speaking in photo above, says they might be sued if a bystander is injured.
A state lawmaker says Guardsmen shouldn't be legally liable if they fire their handguns during a terrorist attack. Major Gen. Max Haston, speaking in photo above, says they might be sued if a bystander is injured.
Credit TN Photo Services (File Photo)
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TN Photo Services (File Photo)
A state lawmaker says Guardsmen shouldn't be legally liable if they fire their handguns during a terrorist attack. Major Gen. Max Haston, speaking in photo above, says they might be sued if a bystander is injured.

Hear the radio version of this story.

  A state lawmaker wants to protect Tennessee National Guard members from lawsuits if they try to use their own handguns to stop a terrorist attack.

Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, plans to introduce the measure by January. He says he's developing it in consultation with Major General MaxHaston.

The Tennessee Guard commanderhas agreed to let Guardsmen carrytheir own handguns. ButHastonadds that, under current state law, they could be legally liable for injuries if they fire them.

The debate over arming military personnel stems from the July16thshootings in Chattanooga. Even though most sailors aren't allowed to carry sidearms on U.S. installations, officerTim White has said he fired a personal handgunat attacker MohammadYoussefAbdulazeez.

Earlier this month, Stars & Stripes reported Lt.Cmdr. White isunlikely to face charges, despite violating military policy. Anonline petitioncalling for him to be honored has gathered 25,000 signatures.

Copyright 2015 WPLN News

Chas joined WPLN in 2015 after eight years with The Tennessean, including more than five years as the newspaper's statehouse reporter.Chas has also covered communities, politics and business in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. Chas grew up in South Carolina and attended Columbia University in New York, where he studied economics and journalism. Outside of work, he's a dedicated distance runner, having completed a dozen marathons