Hegseth Permits Off-Duty Firearm Carry on US Military Bases

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a policy change on Thursday allowing U.S. military personnel to request permission to carry personal firearms on bases while off duty, marking a shift from longstanding restrictions on privately owned weapons at military installations.

The memorandum, signed by Hegseth, directs base commanders to approve such requests with a presumption in favor of granting them for personal protection purposes. Previously, service members could store registered personal firearms in on-base housing or unit armories, but carrying them was largely prohibited except for those in law enforcement or security roles. The new rules apply only to non-official duties and do not permit concealed carry inside installation buildings. If a request is denied, commanders must provide a written explanation detailing the reasons.

Hegseth framed the change as an affirmation of Second Amendment rights for service members, who he described as highly trained professionals entitled to the same protections as other Americans. In a video statement, he said, "Our warfighters defend the right of others to carry. They should be able to carry themselves." He emphasized that the...