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April 2, 2026

Defense Secretary Hegseth allows troops to carry personal weapons on bases

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signed a memo allowing service members to carry personal firearms on bases, citing the Second Amendment and recent shootings as justification.
  • Requests to carry firearms will be presumed necessary for personal protection, with any denials requiring written explanation.
  • Hegseth referenced past shootings, including a recent incident at Fort Stewart that injured five soldiers, to highlight the urgency of this policy change.

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