Secretary of War Issues New Firearms Policy for Military Personnel

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a memorandum allowing military personnel to request permission to carry their privately owned firearms on U.S. military installations.

In a recent video shared by the Department of War, Hegseth expressed concerns that military bases have effectively become “gun-free zones,” which he believes infringes upon service members’ Second Amendment rights. It seems somewhat contradictory, he noted, that those with the highest levels of training are the ones not permitted to carry arms.

“The War Department’s uniformed service members are trained at the highest and unwavering standards,” he remarked. “These war fighters, entrusted with the safety of our nation, are no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American.”

“Our war fighters defend the right of others to carry. They should be able to carry, themselves,” he added.

Hegseth referenced multiple incidents at military bases to emphasize the need for service members to have the ability to arm themselves for protection. For example, he mentioned a shooting at Fort Stewart last August where an Army sergeant fired a personal handgun, injuring four soldiers and his civilian boyfriend, but thankfully, all involved survived.

He also brought up a shooting at Holloman Air Force Base in March, where one military veteran was killed and an active-duty airman injured at a convenience store on the base.

Furthermore, he recalled the tragic attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 2019, where a Saudi officer-in-training killed three U.S. Navy sailors and wounded eight more in an on-base classroom.

“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime,” he emphasized. “And our service members have the courage and training to make those precious, short minutes count.”

Hegseth indicated that it has become “virtually impossible” for military personnel to get permission to carry and store their personal firearms on bases. Typically, military police are the only armed individuals present, except in specific scenarios like shooting ranges or training exercises. Usually, personnel must check their weapons in and out for authorized uses, which can complicate things.

“The memo I’m signing today directs installation commanders to allow requests for personal protection — to carry a privately-owned firearm — with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection,” he stated.

If a request for permission is denied, the memo requires a written explanation detailing the reasoning behind the decision.

“The presumption is service members will be able to have their Second Amendment right on-post,” Hegseth affirmed.

With this shift, he hopes to change the narrative around military installations as gun-free areas, expressing a desire for service members to have the means to protect themselves.