President Donald Trump criticized the policy of gun-free school zones after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018.
"If schools are mandated to be gun free zones, violence and danger are given an open invitation to enter. Almost all school shootings are in gun free zones. Cowards will only go where there is no deterrent!" Trump tweeted one month after the Parkland, Fla., shooting that killed 17 people.
Trump had promised during his 2016 campaign to eliminate gun-free zones at schools, as well as on military bases. On the school part of his promise, legislation stalled. The situation on military bases is more murky, because it varies depending upon the base.
The Crime Control Act of 1990 sponsored by then-Sen. Joe Biden imposed criminal penalties for possession of a firearm in a school zone, with certain exceptions.
During Trump's tenure, bills to repeal the federal law that created gun-free zones stalled without a vote.
However, most states make some exceptions to their own bans on guns in K-12 schools, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. For example, following the Parkland shooting, the Florida Legislature passed a law to allow school districts the option to arm teachers.
President Barack Obama's administration took a step toward eliminating gun-free zones on military bases before Trump took office.
A 2016 Defense Department directive said commanders may grant permission to personnel requesting to carry a privately owned firearm on department property for a "personal protection purpose not related to performance of an official duty or status."
Post commanders generally determine their own regulations for the bases they oversee, but many locations don't allow personal firearms, reported Military.com. Troops living in barracks must typically register their personal firearms and store them in a base storage facility.
The policy varies across military branches, we found.
Marines: On the last day of 2019, the Marines issued a new rule authorizing certain Marines to carry concealed privately owned firearms on Marines property for personal protection. The policy followed shootings? aboard Naval Base Hawaii and Naval Air Station Pensacola in December.
Coast Guard: The Coast Guard has not announced a new policy regarding who can carry firearms during the Trump administration. Members are prohibited from carrying a loaded and privately owned weapon on Coast Guard facilities in a non-official capacity.
Navy: The Navy's current guidance does not allow carrying of firearms for personal protection, although a 2019 policy says eligible personnel may get authorization.
Army: The Army is currently updating its policy. The 2019 version states that the carrying of privately owned weapons on Army installations is prohibited unless authorized by the senior commander who has the responsibility to regulate privately owned weapons.
Air Force: The Air Force allows a commander to selectively arm personnel in their workplace with a government-issued firearm.
The Trump administration proposed a regulation to allow firearms possession on Army Corps of Engineers recreational land, said David Kopel, an expert on firearms policy and research director at the Independence Institute.
Trump did not eliminate gun-free zones at schools. The rules on military bases about carrying personal firearms vary, but we didn't see significant movement toward ending gun-free zones. We rate this Promise Broken.