FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A memo released by the Department of War authorizes off-duty service members to carry private firearms on installations in an attempt to protect Second Amendment rights and provide personal protection.

In a news release from the Department of War on April 2, it was announced that the Secretary of War Pete Hegseth 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 DOW property within the United States. This includes military bases and facilities like Fort Campbell.

With this announcement, Hegseth said that requests to carry firearms should be met with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection.

Current firearm regulations on Fort Campbell

“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,” Hegseth said.

Prior to this authorization, carrying concealed personal firearms on Fort Campbell was strictly prohibited with concealed weapons permits not recognized or honored on the installation.

According to the U.S. Army website, all personnel who desire to have a privately owned weapon on Fort Campbell have to register it with Directorate of Emergency Services and it must be unloaded and properly stored while being transported.

| DOWNLOAD THE APP: Sign up for our free Christian County Now app

What the memo dictates

The memo that was sent to senior Pentagon leadership, defense agency and War Department field activity directors was titled “Non-Official Personal Protection Arming on Department of War Property”. It states that the new policy is consistent with section 526 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.

Section 526 specifies that the secretary may authorize a member of the armed forces who is assigned to duty at the installation, center or facility to carry an appropriate firearm on the installation, center, or facility if the commander determines that carrying such a firearm is necessary as a personal, or force protection measure.

According to the news release, when permitting officials are considering personal carry applications, they must apply “a presumption of approval.”

“If a request is for some reason denied, the reason for that denial will be in writing and will explain, in detail, the basis for that [decision],” Hegseth said. “Again, the presumption is service members will be able to have their Second Amendment right on post.”

Local military personnel should seek council from leadership for next steps in receiving approval before carrying a firearm on the instillation.

| SUBMIT YOUR NEWS: Email news releases to news@christiancountynow.com