Concealed carry for all current service members (CAC holders)?

Georgia allows all Georgia and United States Military to carry openly or concealed without a permit, thus Georgia has Constitutional Carry for Military.

We need Constitutional Carry for civilians, too, in every State, territory, and district, and we need it now.

Since when do we need government permission slips for Constitutionally protected rights?

I've been saying this for years. Massachusetts is a headache when it comes to doing it.. both physically and fiscally. With the required "safety class" and the application fee you're looking at $200-300. That's IF you live in a town with a police chief that issues them. There are some communities where the police chief will deny you and make you take it before a judge. Then you're looking at that too.

Whether you're actively serving or retired, I think that should act as your concealed carry permit regardless of where you are in the country.

I've read most of the comments here. As a former active duty Soldier, a National Guard Soldier, and now a Reserve Soldier (as well as a concealed carry permit holder in SD and MN) I would say "yes." We've had more weapons training as a whole than many civilians and know ROE better than most as well. In the civilian realm I was trained not to play the hero and confront a perp vs. drawing my Glock and trying to save the day unless the threat is well, really throwing a threat. Convenience store clerks are mostly taught to just turn over the money than risk their lives over the cash register as insurance companies will do what they are paid to do after the fact. It's all about keeping your head and analyzing the situation. On post/base, well, I know we kept loaded M4s and M9s around while deployed so what the heck, why not keep that mentality while at home? I say "yes."

This is an excellent proposition,

Personally I would be happy if we, as veterans, were even allowed to carry on base with a CCW. It astounds me that we are required to carry a weapon on bases in Afghanistan (those who have deployed know there is low chance of needing to use it on base) and yet we are not even allowed to carry on bases back in the states, despite multiple on base shootings that have occurred. Someone who has the intent to come onto base and commit mass murder does not care if there is a "rule" barring them from bringing that weapon onto post. I will admit it prevents someone who just suddenly 'snaps' from having immediate access to a weapon, but should their altered state of mind last longer than a few moments, it would be fairly easy for them to drive off base, retrieve a weapon, and return.

Ultimately I don't understand why we are authorized to defend ourselves from enemies abroad but not at home.

I think it's a great idea. Obviously they will want us to take a class, but that's a small price to pay to protect ourselves, our families, and our battle buddies.

Capt Richard I P.: I read your ten points. I have a few questions: I'm a gun owner, I'm now retired from the military (26+ years, with the last 10 in Special Operations). I'm now a "civilian". I'm also a DoD Contractor. I work on base. I have a Contractor CAC Card. I am hoping to become a GS Department of Defense or Department of the Army Civilian.

What do you propose for Civilians who work for the DoD or other defense agencies?
What do you propose for Retirees?
What do you propose for Contractors, especially those who are not "temporary" contractors (that is, they provide continued service to the DoD, rather than they are there to build new barracks and then move on).
Last, what about family members? My wife, for example, was the 2009 Fort Bragg Women's Trap Champion. She has taken it upon herself to become an expert in weapons, and she has a CCW permit issued by our state. In fact, my wife is a much better shot with a shotgun against a high-rate of speed moving target with a shotgun than I am (but I'm better with a rifle and pistol than she is). I believe she has just as much of a right to defend herself from evil as I do, and in fact, one of the goals of terrorists is to terrorize by killing not just Soldiers, but specifically targeting their families. ESPECIALLY if those Soldiers are deployed where not only can a terrorist destroy something good, but also force the military to take a Soldier off the battlefield (Afghanistan for example) because now that Soldier has to come home and bury his family - let alone deal with the grief of such a tragedy - so he/she will be out of the battle for a minimum of 6-12 months or probably longer.

Both my daughter's can shoot as well.

How would you propose we handle those situations?

Thanks.

V/R

Marc

I created a new discussion to post the outcome of advice from this answer, a skeleton letter to congress for anyone to use, check it out here:

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/arm-the-armed-forces

People who have been very involved in this conversation are especially encouraged: LTC Paul Heinlein, SGT (Join to see), SSG(P) (Join to see) MAJ (Join to see) , PO3 Shaun Taylor , SSgt (Join to see) , MSgt (Join to see) , SFC (Join to see) , LCDR (Join to see) , SGT (Join to see) , PO3 (Join to see) , SCPO (Join to see) , CPT (Join to see) , SSgt Gregory Guina, 1LT L S, SSG(P) (Join to see), SPC(P) (Join to see) SSG Peter Ludlum, Cpl Warren Howerter, SGT Artiesa Woods, SFC (Join to see), PV2 (Join to see), SPC (Join to see), PV2 Jordan Varden, SPC Roy Baez-Gordils, TSgt Joshua Lynch, PO1 (Join to see), MSG John Wirts, SPC Brandon "Wheelz" Wheeldon, TSgt (Join to see), CPO (Join to see), MSgt (Join to see), SFC (Join to see), PO1 (Join to see), SFC (Join to see), Maj Wayne Dahlke, Lt Col (Join to see), MSG (Join to see), SFC (Join to see), CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025, SPC David Wolcott, MSgt Allan Folsom, SGT (Join to see), TSgt Joshua Copeland

Hell yes... One of my battles died in the Ft. Hood shooting, sad day for America. If there were armed personnel I guarantee lives would've been saved.

I know in Georgia your CAC is your concealed carry. I went ahead and got the actual license just to be safe and for when I travel, it is reciprocal in a lot of states.

First off, I am a huge proponent of our 2nd amendment rights. To answer this question though, I would have to say "no" for one reason. There are service members who have been convicted of DV and assault. These members are legally not allowed to have a firearm, but they do have a CAC card.