WASHINGTON (AP) – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that he will be permitting service members to carry their personal firearms on military installations. He cited the Second Amendment and recent shootings at bases across the country as the reasoning behind this decision.
In a video message, Hegseth stated that he will be issuing a memo directing base commanders to accept requests from troops to carry privately owned guns, under the assumption that it is necessary for personal protection. Detailed, written explanations will be required for any denial of such requests.
Hegseth highlighted that military bases were previously considered gun-free zones, except for training purposes or for military police. This change comes in response to concerns raised after various incidents of shootings on military bases, ranging from isolated cases to mass casualty events like the 2009 shootings at Ford Hood that resulted in 13 deaths.
One of the events mentioned by Hegseth was a shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia last year, where five soldiers were injured by an Army sergeant using his personal handgun before being subdued by fellow soldiers.
The Defense Department’s current policy prohibits military personnel from carrying personal weapons on base without permission from a senior commander, with strict guidelines on firearm storage. Typically, troops have to check out their guns for authorized activities like hunting or shooting ranges on base.
While the Brady gun violence prevention organization has voiced opposition to this policy change, Hegseth emphasized the need for service members to have the ability to protect themselves in critical moments. Concerns regarding an increase in gun violence and suicides have also been raised.
Despite a decrease in the number of suicides among American service members in 2024, Pentagon reports indicate a gradual increase in overall suicide rates among active duty troops from 2011 to 2024.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
