When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced earlier this month that off-duty military members can carry their personal defense weapons on military installations, subject to the base commander's approval (those commanders are supposed to operate under the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection), it represented a sea change in military policy.
The most recent National Defense Authorization Act contains language that "may authorize a member of the armed forces who is assigned to duty at the installation, center or facility to carry an appropriate firearm on the installation, center, or facility if the commander determines that carrying such a firearm is necessary as a personal, or force protection measure." Unfortunately, that provision does not extend to retired service members or family of those actively serving our country, even if they possess a valid carry license or can bear arms under their state's permitless carry laws.
Still, commanders do have some discretion when one of those individuals inadvertently brings their carry gun on base. According to a recent post on X, one Navy veteran has been barred from entering naval bases throughout the mid-Atlantic after he accidentally brought his carry gun with him to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach.
🚨Heavy Handed removal of retiree benefits:
— Rob Green (@RobGreen1010) April 14, 2026
A retired LCDR was just banned from all Navy bases and facilities in the Hampton Roads area for accidentally having a personal weapon in his vehicle at the base gate checkpoint.
The retired naval officer has a Concealed Carry Permit.… https://t.co/3MClgDwdkP pic.twitter.com/26eSDTk8a6
According to the post by Rob Green, the retired Navy officer has a valid carry license, and "followed all directions provided to him by base security while voluntarily discussing his CC permit and noting that he had mistakenly had the weapon in his vehicle."
Security suggested he turn around and come back without the weapon. He did so gladly and immediately returned back through the same gate (without the weapon of course) while the same security guards offered apologies for the inconvenience.The subsequent ban was an unexpected shock and a grave heavy-handed response to an honest mistake.The JAGs and Commander at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek have unilaterally removed all retiree benefits (except retiree pay) from an honorable man. He can no longer attend base functions, work a job on the base, use MWR facilities, or the commissary (military grocery store).
If the naval vet never got past the base checkpoint with his firearm and fully cooperated with the guards at the gate without raising a stink, then the action from the base commander is completely over the top and out of line. I can't help but wonder if this punishment wasn't the commander's way of thumbing his nose at Hegseth's directive. Since the commander can't unilaterally deny active duty service members their ability to carry on base while off duty, the next best thing would be to subject those who mistakenly bring a gun on base to severe sanctions.
Standby
— Derrick Van Orden (@derrickvanorden) April 15, 2026
I'm glad to see at least one member of Congress is aware of this and is investigating. I've also reached out to Virginia congressman John McGuire, a retired Navy SEAL who also happens to be my representative, and let him know about this situation as well.
Most importantly, though, Hegseth himself is now aware of the situation.
Thanks for sharing. Our team is reviewing. This is unacceptable. https://t.co/a39PUgkO8f
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 15, 2026
While the base commander may have the authority to punish this veteran by banishing him from all military installations in the mid-Atlantic, that doesn't mean it was the right thing to do. If Green's account is correct, then this was nothing more than an innocent mistake that was quickly corrected, and the response from the base commander is highly inappropriate and completely disproportionate in comparison to the veteran's actiions.
I'd love to see the next NDAA expand on the current language to allow veterans, families of active duty servicemembers who live on base, and even civilian contractors who work on base to also ask for approval to carry on base when they're off the clock. At the very least, though, that courtesy should be extended to those who've honorably served this country in uniform. Even without such a policy in place, though, no veteran should be subjected to punishment like this for an honest error that was swiftly rectified.
