Hegseth Eases Rule on Carrying Privately Owned Guns on Military Bases

Recent shootings at military installations have fueled debate over whether service members should be allowed to carry personal firearms on base.
Hegseth Eases Rule on Carrying Privately Owned Guns on Military Bases
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference on U.S. military action in Iran, at the Pentagon in Washington on March 2, 2026. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
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Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum Thursday allowing Department of War personnel—specifically uniformed service members—to carry privately owned firearms while off duty on military installations, subject to approval.

“Before today, 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. ... Well, that’s no longer,” Hegseth said during a social media video.