Hegseth makes pivotal decision on 'gun-free zones' at military bases

Military members will be allowed to carry their personal firearms on military bases, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday.

The previous policy against personal firearms has been heavily criticized each time a shooting at a military base takes the lives of unarmed military personnel.

'Confirming your God-given right to self-protection is what I am signing into action today, and I'm proud to do so.'

In a video posted to the X platform, Hegseth said the decades-old policy would be lifted and troops will be allowed to request to carry privately owned firearms "with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection."

"Effectively, our bases across the country were gun-free zones," Hegseth said. "Unless you're training or unless you are a military policeman, you couldn't carry. You couldn't bring your own firearm for your own personal protection onto post."

He cited the Dec. 2019 attack at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, which took the lives of three men and injured eight others, as well as other lethal shootings.

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

"Before today, it was virtually impossible — most people probably don't know this — it was virtually impossible for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with the state laws where we operate our installations," he added.

"Well, that's no longer."

He said that in those instances where firearm possession is denied, the refusal must be in writing and fully explained.

"The War Department's uniformed service members are trained at the highest and unwavering standards. These warfighters — 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," Hegseth added.

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"Confirming your God-given right to self-protection is what I am signing into action today, and I'm proud to do so," he added before signing the memo in the video.

The previous policy against guns on bases can be traced back to rules signed under former President George H.W. Bush.

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