Why Military Bases Should Never Have Been Gun-Free Zones Authored by John R. Lott Jr. via RealClearPolitics , It may sound hard to believe, but except for a very limited group of personnel, the military has treated its bases as gun-free zones. Until Thursday, only designated security forces – such as military police – could carry firearms while on duty. Commanders punished any other soldier caught...
Why Military Bases Should Never Have Been Gun-Free Zones Authored by John R. Lott Jr. via RealClearPolitics , It may sound hard to believe, but except for a very limited group of personnel, the military has treated its bases as gun-free zones. Until Thursday, only designated security forces – such as military police – could carry firearms while on duty. Commanders punished any other soldier caught carrying a weapon severely, with penalties ranging from rank reduction and forfeiture of pay to court-martial, dishonorable discharge, criminal conviction, and even imprisonment. That changed with a statement from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. “ Before today, it was virtually impossible. Most people probably don’t know this . It is virtually impossible for War Department personnel to get permission to carry and store their own personal weapons aligned with state laws where we operate our installations. I mean effectively our bases are gun-free zones unless you’re training or unless you are a military policeman.” Consider the attacks at Holloman Air Force Base (2026), Fort Stewart (2025), Naval Air Station Pensacola (2019), the Chattanooga recruiting station (2015), both Fort Hood shootings (2014 and 2009), and Navy Yard (2013). Across these attacks, 24 people were murdered and 38 wounded. In each case, unarmed personnel – including JAG officers, Marines, and soldiers – had to hide while the attacker continued firing. Yet when the military deployed U.S. troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, it required them to carry their weapons at all times – even on base. Those soldiers needed to defend themselves against real threats, and there are no known cases of them turning those weapons on each other. The policy worked. Soldiers carried firearms without creating internal violence. So why make it easier for attackers to target troops at home? Why force soldiers – like those at Fort Stewart – to confront armed attackers with their bare hands? It wasn’t always this way. In 1992 , the Geor...
In this article .SPX .IXIC .DJI @LCO.1 Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - APRIL 6: The United States President Donald Trump holds a Press Conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington DC, United States. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. ...
In this article .SPX .IXIC .DJI @LCO.1 Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - APRIL 6: The United States President Donald Trump holds a Press Conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington DC, United States. Celal Gunes | Anadolu | Getty Images Hello, this is Dylan Butts writing to you from Singapore. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open. Markets rallied after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an 11th-hour cease-fire on Tuesday evening, averting the passing of a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its civilian infrastructure. The off-ramp came after Trump had escalated his threats, warning that "a whole civilization" would "die" and Iran would be back to the "Stone Ages," if his demands were not met. An Iranian official has since confirmed Tehran would abide by the ceasefire and allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil flows. What you need to know today U.S. stock futures surged and oil prices fell after Trump said he would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, just before his 8 p.m. ET deadline tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. "I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump posted on Truth Social. "We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." Trump also noted that the "double sided" ceasefire was contingent on Iran agreeing to an opening of the Strait of Hormuz. A statement from Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would stop its defensive operations if attacks against it cease, and that it would allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz subject to coordination with its Armed Forces and with "due consideration of technical limitations." The development comes after Trump had stepped up warnings that Iran would face massiv...