In the aftermath of the July 16 murder of four Marines and one sailor at a Chattanooga, Tenn., operations support center, the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees announced plans to take legislative steps to prevent recurrences. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, intend to work with Pentagon officials to craft a law that would allow otherwise unprotected service members to carry personal firearms. Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, and Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Randall Smith died when a gunman identified as Mohammad Abdulazeez fired into the center. Abdulazeez later either died by his own hand or was killed by police. While the attack is being categorized by politicians and pundits alike as a terrorist act, the shooter’s family has contended he had been suffering from bipolar disorder and abusing drugs. The matter is under investigation. President Obama ordered flags flown at half-staff July 21, six days after the event.