A military base, at first glance, would be one of the safest locations a person could ask for. Thousands of highly trained personnel are ready for any threat, and outside of a war zone, they appear safe and secure.
However, recent attacks at Fort Stewart, Holloman Air Force Base, and Pensacola Naval Air Station shattered this myth, and now change is afoot to address this vulnerability.
Military bases were essentially ‘gun-free’ zones before new policy
On Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed an order to allow military service members to apply for permission to carry their personal firearms while on an installation. This, he said on social media, is simply granting fundamental liberty to these deserving citizens.
“These war fighters, 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. “Our war fighters defend the right of others to carry. They should be able to carry themselves.”
Military personnel were allowed to own weapons, but they could not carry them on military bases.
Those who defend the nation should not be disarmed
Hegseth noted that these incidents explode without warning, and “minutes are a lifetime” when responding to a potentially lethal threat. And while military police are well-trained, like their civilian counterparts, they cannot be everywhere all at once.
The previous policy ironically made military installations essentially “gun-free” zones, the exact kind of soft target that is inviting to violent criminals.
Going forward, service members need to request to carry a personal weapon on base with the presumption that it is for self-defense. If permission is withheld, a written explanation must be provided.
The War Secretary made the order’s intention clear. “Affirming your God-given right to self-protection is what I’m signing today.”
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