Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Apr. 8 a new policy permitting uniformed service members to carry privately owned firearms while off duty on Department of War (DOW) property within the United States.
The change reverses longstanding restrictions that effectively made most military bases gun-free zones, except for training or law enforcement purposes. Hegseth said in a video posted online, “Before today, it was virtually impossible — most people probably don’t know this — 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. Effectively, our bases across the country were gun-free zones, unless you’re training, or unless you’re a military policeman, you couldn’t carry. You couldn’t bring your own firearm for your own personal protection onto post. Well, that’s no longer.”
Kostas Moros, director of Legal Research and Education for the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), responded in a statement: “SAF fully supports Secretary Hegseth’s decision to enable our service members to be able to carry personal firearms on military bases, with any denials requiring a written explanation. SAF believes any ‘gun-free zones’ are constitutionally questionable, and also create soft targets that are enticing to criminals and others bent on violence. The fact that military bases, of all places, have been under such restrictions has long been perplexing to us. Serving your country should not require the wholesale abandonment of the Second Amendment right of armed self-defense. It’s excellent to hear that this dangerous policy is finally changing.”
Hegseth referenced several past attacks at U.S. military installations as context for the policy shift—including incidents at Naval Air Station Pensacola in December 2019 and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in August 2025—as well as earlier shootings at Fort Hood in 2009 and 2014.
A media release from Hegseth’s office indicated that updates will be made by the under secretary of war for intelligence and security regarding physical security measures outlined in the War Department Manual; these changes will allow officials to review requests from service members seeking permission to carry personally owned firearms.
In his announcement video Hegseth said applications denied must receive written explanations: “If the rejection of an application is necessary, the rejection shall be in writing and explain the objective, clearly describable, and individualized basis for such decision. The review shall be a dispassionate and commonsense application of applicable law and standards.” He added: “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… Our warfighters defend the right of others to carry. They should be able to carry themselves.”
Buckeye Firearms Association advocates for individual firearm rights including self-defense according to its official website. The organization focuses its efforts primarily within Ohio according to its website.
Buckeye Firearms Association also provides alerts about laws affecting gun rights as reported by its official site, along with legislative updates related events information according its website. Functioning as a grassroots group focused on firearm rights the association reports, Buckeye Firearms Association centers activities mainly in Ohio according its official site.
