Defense spending bill = loosening gun restrictions?

[Frankie]

But finalizing the annual defense authorization bill is a significant step forward in that larger process, and gives Pentagon planners a host of other policy updates as well:

Allowing personal firearms on stateside bases — Lawmakers are requiring Defense Secretary Ash Carter to develop a plan by the end of this year that would allow stateside base commanders to decide whether to allow their service members to carry personal firearms on duty, or in areas where that is currently restricted by the military. Any such plan would not supercede local laws.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/mili ... /76302160/

As a military retiree and DoD employee, I hope this will allow us (wife and I)to start carrying to and from work, to and from BX/PX and commissary and maybe even while at work.

[jrs_diesel]

I have the ammendment to the 2016 NDAA right here. I think it's a step in the right direction, but will not give full reciprocity right away. A few things jump out at me right away, a member must meet the qual requirements for carrying service weapons of thier service (current pistol quals I believe), and the base commander or commanding officer may authorize concealed carry. I can see some base commanders will be ok with CC and authorize it, others probably won't even consider it.

That ammendment also didn't mention anything about civilian employees or retirees.

AMENDMENT TO RULES COMM PRINT 114–14
OFFERED BY MR. CARTER OF TEXAS
H.R. 1735 as ordered reported by the Committee on Armed
Services
At the end of subtitle D of title V (page 179, afterline 21), add the following new section:
SEC. 5ll. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROCESS BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES MAY CARRY A
CONCEALED PERSONAL FIREARM ON A MILITARY INSTALLATION.
(a) PROCESS REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Defense, taking into consideration the views of senior leadership of military installations in the United States, shall establish a process by which the commander of a military installation in the United States may authorize a member of the Armed Forces who is assigned to duty at the installation to carry a concealed personal firearm on the installation if the commander determines it to be necessary as a personal or force-protection measure.
(b) RELATION TO STATE AND LOCAL LAW.—In establishing the process under subsection (a) for a military installation, the commander of the installation shall consult with elected officials of the State and local jurisdictions in which the installation is located and take into consideration the law of the State and such jurisdictions regarding carrying a concealed personal firearm.
(c) MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS.—To be eligible to be authorized to carry a concealed personal firearm on a military installation pursuant to the process established under subsection (a), a member of the Armed Forces—
(1) must complete any training and certification required by any State in which the installation is located that would permit the member to carry concealed in that State;
(2) must not be subject to disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for any offense that could result in incarceration or separation from the Armed Forces;
(3) must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm because of conviction of a crime of domestic violence; and
(4) must meet such service-related qualification requirements for the use of firearms, as established by the Secretary of the military department concerned.
(d) STATE DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.

[gljjt]

I suspect pressure from the top will preclude this from happening until there is a gun friendly Commander-in-Chief.

At any facility of any size the commander will be a General Officer. Whose career is directly controlled by the COC.

It's a step in the right direction with little to no short term improvement.

[baldeagle]

I hate to say it, but opt in isn't going to work Remember, the President of UT Austin is a former SpecOps Admiral, and he is totally opposed to guns on campus. I guarantee you every installation will maintain the current status - no guns allowed. The only way these dunderheads get the message is when the legislature commands them to obey.

[ScottDLS]

I suspect pressure from the top will preclude this from happening until there is a gun friendly Commander-in-Chief.

At any facility of any size the commander will be a General Officer. Whose career is directly controlled by the COC.

It's a step in the right direction with little to no short term improvement.

My experience (albeit some time ago) is that flag and general officers are politicians by necessity. Also the military tends to instill a strong belief in the power and authority of the federal government over its citizens. More so for officers. This was a prime reason for the Founders adding the 2nd amendment and their concept of the Militia therein. Anti-Federalists and the Federalists were both very suspicious of the power of a standing Federal army.