Bad news for would-be domestic terrorists: America's military bases are no longer soft targets.
It might sound strange to hear that, given that these locations contain many highly trained soldiers and a vast amount of weaponry, but, as the 2009 terrorist attack at Fort Hood in Texas proved (not to mention the many attacks on bases since then), those firearms aren't going to do servicemembers much good if they are not permitted to carry them.
Yesterday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth put an end to all of that, signing an order allowing servicemembers to carry on base, noting that our rights are granted to us by God, and members of the military have the same Second Amendment rights as every other American. Watch:
Our military installations have been turned into gun-free zones—leaving our service members vulnerable and exposed.
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) April 2, 2026
That ends today. pic.twitter.com/IQ204YepZ0
The reaction to Hegseth's order from various audiences reveals everything about them.
For the left, of course, their first reaction was to conclude that soldiers just can't wait to frag their superior officers, or take their own lives, and this order would make that easier.
Almost guaranteed that we’re going to see an increase in suicide rates as a direct result of this btw https://t.co/qLVpKvlaFw
— James🔻 (@GoodVibePolitik) April 2, 2026
fragging your commander has never been so easy https://t.co/2EtceH8F4h
— /leftypol/ - leftypol.org (@leftypol_org) April 2, 2026
Seriously, what is wrong with these people?
They project every vile instinct within them onto other people because leftism is a mental illness.
Thankfully, most veterans understood and appreciated the importance of this policy change.
If my sister would’ve carried, she’d be here today. That monster attacked her inside the arms room, she didn’t stand a chance… https://t.co/8xPgMr8tLf pic.twitter.com/hz5gp0Zj8d
— Mayra Guillen (@mguilen_) April 2, 2026
Recommended
Mayra Guillen is the sister of Vanessa Guillen, who was attacked and abducted from her base (also Fort Hood) and later murdered.
In case anyone feels like using this as a partisan attack. See the reason why carrying is common sense👇 https://t.co/8aoNj0O5G9
— InfantryDort (@infantrydort) April 2, 2026
The fact that the policy was ever anything different is the exact opposite of common sense.
Gun-free zones on bases only turn our service members into soft targets.
— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) April 2, 2026
This is a fantastic new policy 🇺🇸 https://t.co/4s1mnBqQxB
I VIVIDLY remember arguing with my CO about this policy once upon a time. We argued for hours in the back of a Stryker while in the field.
— PNWGUERRILLA (@pnwguerrilla) April 2, 2026
My main argument was why the f*** does the government trust me with a handgun while off post, and the federal government trusts me and… https://t.co/0KS0bMXBW6
... issues me A FULLY AUTOMATIC GRENADE LAUNCHER….even as a teenager, But the federal government doesn’t trust me with a my own handgun while on post……Make it make sense.
Sorry, we can't make it make sense. And we bet this veteran's CO never could make it make sense either.
While stationed at Ft. Lewis I had a WA state concealed carry permit
— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) April 2, 2026
But I was supposed to leave my gun at home to go to
1st Special Forces Group where I was a Special Forces WEAPONS guy
It was absurd
Good Call @SecWar, trust the troops https://t.co/F7w8ObCMcA
If there's one thing Hegseth has proven in his time as Secretary of War, it is that he does trust the troops. Far more than the corrupted or DEI leadership, many of whom he recently fired.
THIS IS THE WAY
— USMC Lady Vet 🇺🇸 (@Arkypatriot) April 2, 2026
This should have been done after 13 soldiers were slaughtered in 2009. Thank you for continuing to set the crazy things straight. pic.twitter.com/M0TmZiijHg
— AnnaZ (@AnnaZ) April 2, 2026
There were many calls to reverse the policy after the 2009 attack. The Obama administration ignored them all.
🔥🔥🔥 Thank you. That will prevent things like this from happening in the future. pic.twitter.com/aW8eGbNnFO
— NvyPtrt1795 (@NvyPtrt1795) April 2, 2026
It will certainly make any would-be terrorists think twice before walking onto a base with ill intent.
My daughter is USAF on MacDill. They practice hiding behind shelves and under desks for 'active shooters', when what they should REALLY be practicing is small squad tactics to deal with anyone stupid enough to try and start a firefight on a military base.
— Robert Patrick Wills (@TheRobertPWills) April 2, 2026
That's insane. Hopefully, training practices will be revised with the new policy.
My husband is a veteran. We do groceries at the PX, and it's astonishing to see how vulnerable the guards are—no police presence and the two guards unarmed.
— Maria Estrella (@mariadestrella) April 2, 2026
How stupid our military has become. Arm them all! Put more guards at every base entrance! pic.twitter.com/J1N5id8V2u
The idea that trained warfighters shouldn't carry weapons on their own bases was always absurd. It was ideology over security.
— Commentary Pete Hegseth War Desk (@HegsethWarDesk) April 2, 2026
The result? Vulnerable personnel. Exposed installations. A message that troops couldn't be trusted to defend themselves.
That ends today. Common sense… pic.twitter.com/b0ViDjwDQb
... returns. Our warriors SHOULD carry. Our enemies will know it.
Next, we need to eliminate other soft targets, such as schools.
But Hegseth can't change that policy with the stroke of a pen, unfortunately.
THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY.
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) April 2, 2026
This is so overdue and so necessary. Why should our warriors be deprived of their Second Amendment rights, particularly when they are such high value targets for our enemies?
(Also, open carry Saturdays in the PX/BX/NEX are going to be LIT!!!!) https://t.co/jJLWuu9tv7
Military installations are extremely high-value targets for those who hate America. But it just got a lot more difficult for them.
This is why the Army Chief of Staff was fired I bet. https://t.co/pvnnH3A8Iy
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) April 2, 2026
We can't confirm that, but this would also make sense.
The leftist media have been attacking Hegseth for his firings, spreading the misinformation that he is only firing women and minorities.
The truth is that Hegseth is giving the boot to anyone of any sex or race who doesn't want the United States military to be the most lethal and effective fighting force in the world.
And the Department of War's new policy for American military bases means that anyone who has a problem with that is going to have a very bad day.
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