CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Outside each of the Army Recruitment Centers in Clarksville volunteers stand guard, armed with handguns and rifles.
"It’s an AR 15, pretty much the same weapon that is used by military, law enforcement," volunteer Doc Smith said.
Smith is a part of a group called the "Three Percenters".
"Patriots that are willing to do whatever it takes for us to get our country back," Smith said.
After the deadly attack in Chattanooga, he said "doing whatever it takes" means making sure the men and women inside the recruitment centers are protected.
"These guys are charged with the responsibility of defending our freedom and yet they come to work in this office and they don't have the capability of defending their own lives, well that's what we're here to do," he said.
Their service has not gone unnoticed. Citizens sporadically stopped by to say thank you and take pictures. Army veteran, Steven Bressi was one of them.
Bressi served from 2010 to 2014, he visited Tuesday to personally thank each person outside.
"Kinda means a lot that guys are willing to take time out of their day and protect what they know is right," explained Bressi.
While some question if what they're doing is legal, for now no one has asked them to leave.
"I'll be here all day," said Smith.
In the week following the deadly attack, volunteers are turning their pain into patriotism.
"My heart goes out to the families of those lost servicemen," Smith said.
