New Hegseth Order Lets Troops Carry Personal Firearms on Base
Military.com • • nation
Key Points:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a new directive allowing off-duty service members to carry privately owned firearms on U.S. military bases, presuming approval for such requests unless denied in writing with detailed reasons.
- This policy reverses previous restrictions that limited personal firearms mostly to law enforcement or training purposes and aims to enhance on-base security amid recent shootings at military installations.
- The move is framed as both a self-defense measure and a constitutional right, with Hegseth emphasizing that service members should not face stricter firearm limits than civilians.
- The directive raises questions about enforcement, safety, coordination with existing military police, and how it will align with state firearm laws and emergency response protocols.
- The policy responds to concerns about security gaps and response times following attacks at bases such as Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fort Stewart, and Holloman Air Force Base.
