Hegseth authorizes off-duty service members to carry private firearms on military installations

(KWTX) - Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Thursday signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow uniformed service members to request to carry privately owned firearms while in their nonofficial duty capacity on Department of Defense property within the United States. “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. “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. Hegseth said the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment applies to all Americans, including those in uniform.