Armed vet stands guard outside military recruitment office in Lake Jackson

LAKE JACKSON, TX (KTRK) -- With an AR-15 in his hands and determination in his face, John Vintila walks with a purpose.

"Why not? Our government isn't protecting them. It's up to me, you, him, all these people. Somebody gotta do it," he said.

Vintila is a Navy veteran and retired firefighter. After last week's attack on a military recruitment center in Tennessee, he decided to get involved. He's now standing guard at his local military recruitment center.

"I don't see no other way to do it," he said. "Do you see police officers doing it? They got other things to do. Anybody else want to come help?"

Lake Jackson police are now monitoring Vintila, but haven't received any complaints.

"He is not allowed to put anybody in danger or be reckless about what he's doing," said Asst. Police Chief Paul Kibodeaux. "Currently there are no regulations for the gun he was carrying."

He says private citizens have every right to protect themselves and those around them.

"They reserve the right to protect themselves," Kibodeaux explained. "Us in law enforcement, yes, it causes us issues, but we don't blame them for that."