Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has implemented a new policy allowing military service members to request permission to carry their personal firearms on military installations, including bases, naval yards, and recruitment centers. Hegseth stated that the policy aims to empower military personnel to defend themselves against potential attacks, citing past incidents such as the December 2019 shooting at Pensacola naval base and the 2020 murder of Army specialist Vanessa Guillen as reasons for the change. The memo appears to relax previous restrictions that allowed for case-by-case permissions to carry firearms, which required registration and secure storage. Under the new directive, servicemembers will have a presumption of being able to carry their firearms, while still adhering to state laws regarding permits and ammunition. The policy has garnered support from some military families, including Mayra Guillen, who expressed that her sister might have survived if she had been allowed to carry a firearm. This policy marks a significant shift from over two decades of restrictions on personal firearms on military bases.