FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2026 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, April 2, 2026, the Department of War (DoW) announced a new policy allowing uniformed service members to carry their privately owned firearms while off-duty on military installations. IAVA is deeply concerned by this announcement. We respect and defend the constitutional rights of all Americans, including those who serve. But rights must be balanced with responsibility and policy must prioritize safety, especially in environments as unique and sensitive as military installations. 

This change is a departure from long-standing policy and raises several serious concerns regarding the safety and well-being of service members, families, and military police:  

1. It undermines suicide prevention efforts. “The recently released Annual Report on Suicide in the Military confirms that firearms are the most common method of suicide across the Armed Forces. Efforts to address lethal means safety have had an impact, as evidenced by an overall decrease in military suicide,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA. “We know that time and distance from lethal means saves lives and this change is a disservice to suicide prevention efforts and to our men and women struggling with their mental health. This policy carries completely unnecessary risk that will undoubtedly lead to more lives lost.” 

2. It increases the potential for fatal domestic violence cases. Military life is complex, shaped by unique challenges such as deployments, frequent moves, and reintegration struggles – often accompanied by increased rates of substance abuse, PTSD, and domestic violence. Studies show that immediate access to a firearm during a domestic dispute increases the chance of an intimate partner homicide roughly fivefold, turning a moment of crisis into a fatal outcome.   

3. It diverts security resources from their core mission. Expanding personal firearm access on base creates new operational demands: ensuring safe storage, responding to unsecured weapons, and managing an increased risk of suicide and domestic violence incidents. Every instance requires time, personnel, and attention from already stretched security forces, raising serious concerns about implementation of this policy. This is especially true in high-traffic environments like the Pentagon complex, where firearms may be stored in personal vehicles—introducing additional risks and enforcement challenges without any clear risk mitigation or safeguards. 

4. It is built on a false premise. Every single incident cited by Secretary Hegseth to justify this change involved individuals with authorized base access who carried out violence using their own personal firearm: including a service member, a foreign military trainee, and a veteran in a domestic violence incident. Expanding firearm access on base does not address external threats, it increases the risk that internal threats become more lethal. Additionally, DoD Directive 5210.56 already contains a pathway for individuals to obtain permission to carry firearms for personal protection outside of official duties.   

Bases are not just workplaces. They are homes, schools, and communities. They house young service members, military families, and children – all living alongside the daily stresses of military life. The military understands better than anyone the consequences of firearm use. “This decision undermines and removes the intentional separation between personal weapons and daily life on base,” said Jerritt Lynn, IAVA Director of Membership. “As a former First Sergeant in Army Special Operations, I was responsible for caring for the health and welfare of not only my Soldiers but also their families. In my 21 years of service, I never felt so unsafe that I needed to demand carrying a firearm on base, although it was always an option to request such authorization. The environments never necessitated such a request and still do not. If such widespread violence exists across our military installations to warrant presumptive approval to carry firearms, then we need to discuss the unsafe conditions driven by the Department of War and how to mitigate them without provoking further violence.”

IAVA urges DoW and Secretary Hegseth to reconsider this policy and to prioritize evidence-based measures to protect our service members, reduce the risk of suicide and violence, and ensure our installations remain secure places for military families to live and serve. 

About IAVA: IAVA stands at the center of people, policy, and institutions to ensure that the lived experience of post-9/11 veterans is heard, measured, and acted on. We pair the experiences of post-9/11 veterans with evidence, use that to shape policy, and work with institutions that serve veterans to ensure that policies become real in veterans’ lives. By convening veterans, researchers, and decision-makers, IAVA drives the changes needed to ensure America serves the newest generation of veterans. 

Contact Information:

Jessica Finucan
Director, Policy and Advocacy
Email: press@iava.org
Website: IAVA.org

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