Seven years after the Fort Hood attack, the Pentagon finally has released its policy detailing how U.S. troops, normally unarmed, will be allowed to carry personal firearms on military bases.
While most Second Amendment groups praise the Pentagon directive, others say it’s overly burdensome — and for valid reason.
The new policy stems from a provision in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act: Service members can request permission to carry “a privately owned firearm on DoD property for a personal protection purpose not related to performance of an official duty or status.”
But the standard for using lethal force is elevated for service members who are granted this permission as compared to the standard for civilians, The Washington Free Beacon reports. Service personnel must exhaust all “non-lethal” forms of defense before drawing their weapons.
Moreover, “Written permission will be valid for 90 days or as long as the DoD Component deems appropriate,” according to the policy.
The hoops and hurdles contained within this policy are absurd. As Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation notes, “Only the government can take 26 pages to justify a right” that the Founders spelled out in a single line.
And lest anyone forget, 13 people died and more than 30 others were injured in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. Those who defend our country deserve a better, unambiguous gun policy to defend themselves while on military bases.
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