By Sam Barron |
Thursday, 02 April 2026 10:07 PM EDT
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed an order Wednesday letting U.S. service members carry personally owned guns on military installations, marking a significant shift in long-standing policy.
In a video posted on social media, Hegseth framed the move as an extension of Second Amendment rights.
“The Second Amendment to our Constitution enshrines the right of all citizens to carry weapons to protect themselves, their families, and their fellow countrymen,” he said.
Hegseth argued that trained service members should be trusted to carry weapons for personal protection.
“These warfighters … are no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American,” he said.
The directive instructs installation commanders to approve requests for carrying privately owned guns with a presumption in favor of personal protection. If a request is denied, commanders must provide a written explanation.
“The presumption is service members will be able to have their Second Amendment right on post,” Hegseth said.
Policy shift
Previously, military policy generally prohibited personnel from carrying personal guns on base without explicit authorization.
Weapons were typically required to be stored securely and checked out only for approved activities such as hunting or shooting at designated ranges.
Outside of specific duties or training, military police have usually been the primary armed personnel on installations.
Rationale
Hegseth cited past shootings on military bases — including at Fort Hood, Fort Stewart, Holloman Air Force Base, and Naval Air Station Pensacola — as evidence that armed service members could respond more quickly in emergencies.
“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime,” he said.
Criticism and concerns
Gun control advocates and some military policy experts have raised concerns about the change.
Tanya Schardt, senior counsel at the Brady gun violence prevention organization, said military leadership has historically opposed loosening firearm restrictions on bases.
She pointed to data showing that most active-duty service member suicides involve personally owned guns and warned the policy could increase risks.
“There will undoubtedly be an increase in gun suicide and other gun violence,” Schardt said.
A Pentagon report released this week found that while the number of suicides declined in 2024, the overall rate among active-duty troops has trended upward the past decade.
Schardt also argued that military installations are already heavily secured.
“Our military installations are among the most guarded, protected properties in the world, and they’ve never been gun-free zones,” she said.
Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed an order Wednesday letting U.S. service members carry personally owned guns on military installations, marking a significant shift in long-standing policy.
pete hegseth, guns, second amendment, military bases, fort stewart
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Thursday, 02 April 2026 10:07 PM
2026-07-02
Thursday, 02 April 2026 10:07 PM
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