As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump vowed to use his executive authority to immediately scrap a longstanding rule that bars military personnel from carrying their own firearms on bases and at recruiting centers.
Late last week, the Department of Defense took its own steps to loosen restrictions on private gun carry in new rules issued by the Pentagon.
A November 18 directive, approved by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work, says base commanders “may grant permission” to department personnel who ask to carry a privately owned firearm “for a personal protection purpose not related to performance of an official duty or status.” The rule extends to openly carried or concealed weapons but does not go as far as the blanket authorization that Trump seemed to proffer.
The directive, first reported by Military.com, overhauls a rule imposed under President George H.W. Bush in 1992 that barred civilians and military personnel who are not on security duty or part of a law enforcement investigation from carrying guns on military sites.
Under the new policy, a base or facility’s top brass can give permission to troop members wishing to carry a firearm, provided they meet certain criteria. To be cleared for private carry, personnel must be at least 21 years old; have a record clear of disciplinary issues or criminal records; and comply with all federal, state, and local gun laws. The directive states that personnel authorized to carry a firearm must “acknowledge they may be personally liable” for injuries, death, or property damage caused in connection with a gun.
This article was from November 2016
President Trump did not initiate it.
It is the heart of what I call Defiance through Compliance.
The directive makes it functionally impossible for a commander to issue permits.
Yes, theoretically they could issue permits, but no prudent commander would do so.