Department of War Memorandum on Private Guns on Military Bases a Step in Right Direction

“Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow War Department personnel — namely, uniformed service members — to request to carry privately owned firearms while in their nonofficial duty capacity on DOW property within the United States,” Pentagon News announced April 2. “"The memo I'm signing today directs installation commanders to allow requests for personal protection — to carry a privately owned firearm — with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection," he continued.”

“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 declared in a statement that cited “several active-shooter incidents on U.S. military installations in recent years,” and noting the "Non-Official Personal Protection Arming on Department of War Property" is authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.

There is a “presumption of approval” on personal carry applications, the announcement states, adding, "If a request is for some reason denied, the reason for that denial will be in writing and will explain — in detail — the basis for that [decision].” One further restriction for the Pentagon is that “the memo stops short of allowing personal-carry within the walls of the building,” mandating “that the Pentagon Force Protection Agency must allow fair consideration for Pentagon personnel to store a privately owned firearm in a vehicle on the Pentagon Reservation.’"

State Bans Still in Place

While this is a welcome and much needed announcement, and while Hegseth’s acknowledgement that the Second Amendment is a “God-given right” is consistent with the clear intent of the Framers of the Constitution, it needs to be recognized for what it is—a good first step but not the journey’s end. For instance, making base carry subject to permits and unconstitutional gun bans imposed by the state the base is located in automatically means infringements will take legal precedence, especially when considering  that means there will be no possession or storage of personally owned AR-15s in over a dozen states, and no standard capacity magazines, forced reset triggers, etc.

Also unknown, since Hegseth acknowledges it is a right, what provisions will be extended to contractors and civilian employees? And in a related concern, guns are still banned from military cemeteries, meaning visitors must travel unarmed to visit departed loved ones. While this ban is codified in law and can’t be overturned by memorandum or order, Hegseth and President Trump could capitalize on the momentum of the military base memorandum and encourage Congress to correct this affront to patriots who died fighting for freedom.

Hegseth’s memorandum is long overdue and appreciated. But it’s just the first step.

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