The Safe Bases Act of 2025 would allow active-duty military members to carry hidden firearms while on military bases. Currently, military installations have strict rules about firearms, and service members generally cannot carry guns on base. This bill would change that by letting the Department of Defense create a permit system that allows eligible active-duty personnel to carry concealed weapons on military property.

To get a permit, a service member would need to be actively serving in the military and must not be legally prohibited from owning firearms under federal law. This means people with certain criminal convictions or other disqualifications wouldn't be eligible. The Department of Defense would set up a single office or authority to handle all the permit applications and approvals across the entire military.

The practical effect would be that military bases—which are currently gun-free zones for most personnel—would become places where some service members could carry firearms. This represents a significant shift in how military installations manage weapons and security, moving from a blanket prohibition to a permit-based system for active-duty troops.

Safe Bases Act of 2025

Steube, W. Gregory

Safe Bases Act of 2025This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow a service member to carry a concealed firearm while on any military installation. DOD must establish a single authority within the department to issue permits for this purpose. To be eligible for a permit, the service member must be on active duty and must not be prohibited under federal law from purchasing, owning, or possessing a firearm.