National Guard members begin carrying handguns and rifles during deployment in DC
The article reports that National Guard members deployed in washington,D.C.,under orders from President Donald Trump,have begun carrying service weapons,including M17 pistols and some M4 rifles,as of Sunday evening. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the arming of the troops to allow them to use their weapons for self-protection and onyl as a last resort in response to imminent threats of death or serious bodily harm. Although Guardsmen cannot make arrests, they support local law enforcement in tasks such as community safety patrols and crowd control.
Over 1,900 National Guard troops from several states have been sent to Washington, contributing to a total force of more than 2,000 service members in the district, with most coming from outside D.C. This military presence followed Trump’s federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department aimed at addressing perceived high crime rates. Initial data showed a moderate drop in crime and an increase in immigration-related arrests after the federal takeover.
The deployment is unusual as the National Guard is typically activated only for natural disasters or civil unrest. Trump has indicated plans to extend similar deployments to cities like Chicago and New York, which has prompted criticism from Democratic leaders.
National Guard members begin carrying handguns and rifles during deployment in DC
National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C., at the direction of President Donald Trump began carrying service weapons as of Sunday evening.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized members of the National Guard to carry weapons on Friday, but he did not give specifics on how often or how many service members would be armed. The direction marks a shift in tone for the National Guard members, who have mostly been aiding law enforcement with community safety patrols, traffic control, and crowd flow.
The majority of the guard members will carry M17 pistols, their service-issued weapons, and a small number of troops will be armed with their service M4 rifles, according to NBC News. Troops have been authorized to use their weapons for self-protection and “as a last resort” in response to an “imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm,” the federal task force said.
Members of the National Guard cannot make arrests, but they can support law enforcement.
More than 1,900 troops from the National Guards in Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and West Virginia have been sent to Washington at the direction of their governors.
The military force in the district has over 2,000 service members, more than 60% of whom are from outside the district.
Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police Department and sent troops into Washington more than two weeks ago with the goal of curbing perceived high crime. In the week starting Aug. 12, which was the first full day the Trump administration had control over the local police, the district saw a moderate drop in reported crime and a larger increase in immigration-related arrests, according to CNN.
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Trump has said he will next target Chicago and New York to deploy troops, comments that have elicited strong pushback from Democratic leaders in both states.
The National Guard’s deployment to Washington is uncommon, as the military force is typically only called for natural disasters or during times of civil unrest.
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