EVERETT — George Svihus walked up and shook Chris Murphy’s hand in front of the boxy beige building that houses the U.S. military’s local recruiting center.
“My son called and said there was just one guy sitting out here and I thought, ‘I can fix that,’ ” Svihus said.
It was a little after 3 p.m. Wednesday and Murphy had been seated in a camping chair on the sidewalks in front of the recruiters’ offices since 9:30 a.m. A handgun in a holster was visible on his hip.
Murphy planned to stay outside the recruiting center until they closed for the day. He welcomed Svihus’ company.
The two Everett men, one an Army veteran and the other a self-proclaimed “old hippie,” came out to the center across the street from the Everett Mall to volunteer as armed guards, they said.
Four Marines and one Navy sailor were killed last week in Chattanooga, Tenn., after a shooter opened fire at a Navy and Marine reserve center. Earlier he’d shot at a military recruiting center although nobody was hit.
Armed volunteers have shown up at multiple recruiting offices around Washington this week, saying they want to protect the current and future service members inside. Military rules do not allow recruiters to carry firearms in the office.
“All these future heroes need to be able to come in here and feel safe,” Murphy said. “I know they’re all big boys and can protect themselves, but they shouldn’t have to.”
Murphy served in the Army from 2005 to 2013 and was stationed for a time in Iraq. His daughter recently joined the Marines.
Svihus’ family has a history of military service, though he did not enlist. He’s a proponent of responsible gun ownership, he said, and he opposes the rule that stops recruiters from carrying weapons. Any military location should come equipped with a small armory, Murphy and Svihus agreed.
“People putting their lives on the line in other countries deserve to feel safe at home,” Svihus said.
Tucked toward the back of a shopping center across from the mall, the recruiting offices aren’t in a high traffic area and Wednesday was a quiet day, Murphy said. Most people who passed by were friendly. Some thanked Murphy or gave him a thumbs up. He hadn’t received any negative comments. With handguns holstered, they were looking to have a presence but not cause a ruckus, he said.
Though Murphy and Svihus don’t belong to an organized group of volunteers, they’d started to collect supporters by the end of the afternoon. More people showed up after 4 p.m., toting military-style rifles rather than handguns.
Several volunteers plan to be back tomorrow.
The Department of Defense and the Army prohibit weapons in recruiting centers, said Tom Conning, public affairs chief with the Seattle Army Recruiting Battalion, which includes the Everett offices. Armed volunteers must stay outside.
“In light of the attack, the Army will increase vigilance and review our security measures, particularly at stand-alone sites not connected to a military installation,” Conning said in an email.
The best way for civilians to help keep any military location secure is to report suspicious activity, he said.
“If you see something, say something,” Conning said.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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