Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 21, 2015

Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

This bill states U.S. policy that Department of Defense (DOD) personnel shall be appropriately armed and have the inherent right to self-defense.

Current regulations and directives, or any provision in any other rule, regulation, or executive order prohibiting military personnel trained in firearms from carrying personal firearms on U.S. military installations shall have no further force or effect with regard to such military personnel, and they shall not be prohibited from carrying personal firearms on U.S. military installations.

The bill directs DOD to establish a process by which the commander of a military installation in the United States may authorize a qualifying member of the Armed Forces 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-protection or force-protection measure.

The commander of the installation shall consult with appropriate state and local elected officials and take into consideration state and local laws law regarding carrying a concealed personal firearm.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI] · R–WI

Committees

Armed Services Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Jul 21, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Jul 21, 2015
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Jul 21, 2015 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 1815 · A bill to require a process by which members of the Armed Forces may carry a concealed personal firearm on a military installation.

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Discuss S.1821, 114th Congress: Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1821

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1821/BILLS-114s1821is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

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Analyze S.1821 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.1821, 114th Congress: Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1821

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1821/BILLS-114s1821is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Discuss S.1821, 114th Congress: Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1821

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1821/BILLS-114s1821is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

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Discuss S.1821, 114th Congress: Armed Forces Self-Defense Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/1821

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2015-07-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/s1821/BILLS-114s1821is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:31Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.1821 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.