San Diego, CA
Servicemembers can request to carry personal firearms on military bases, Hegseth announces
Uniformed servicemembers can request to carry their personal firearms on military installations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video posted to social media Thursday, sparking mixed reaction from veterans in a community that’s at the center of the mental health conversation and knows weapons better than anyone else.
“The War Department’s uniformed service members are trained at the highest and unwavering standards,” Hegseth said. “These warfighters, entrusted with the safety of our nation, are no less entitled to exercise their God given right to keep and bear arms than any other American.”
“Our warfighters defend the right of others to carry. They should be able to carry themselves,” he continued, signing a memo on camera that he said would direct installation commanders to allow requests “with the presumption that it is necessary for personal protection.”
Previously, privately owned firearms had to be kept off base or in some places, approved for storage in the armory.
Representatives for San Diego bases – including Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and Naval Air Station North Island – pointed inquiries on how those requests would be processed and how the new policy would be implemented to the Pentagon, which has released few details beyond Hegseth’s announcement.
A release from the department said the memo makes the undersecretary of war for intelligence and security responsible for updating the manual that lays out physical security measures and will authorize officials to review those requests.
“If a request is for some reason denied, the reason for that denial will be in writing and will explain — in detail — the basis for that direction,” Hegseth said.
He pointed to incidents on bases, including a deadly shooting last August at Fort Stewart in Georgia, and another at a New Mexico Air Force base last month, as motivation in part for the policy change.
“In these instances, minutes are a lifetime, and our servicemembers have the courage and training to make those precious short minutes count,” Hegseth said.
The change inspired mixed reaction from veterans, much like the national gun debate in a microcosm: some believed it would offer more protection while others worried shootings and suicides would rise.
“I believe this is a step in the right direction for safety,” said Marine Corps veteran Lance Gilson, who spent more than six years at Camp Pendleton.
“There were a lot of times where I thought about, you know what, if something happened right here, right now, is the military police going to be able to respond quick enough?” he said.
“It is my job to protect not only myself, but the others around me and ones who can’t protect themselves,” Gilson continued. “On military bases, it’s not just military personnel. You have civilians, families that live there. And if you’re not able to respond to them in time, you know, that to me is a concerning feeling — knowing that I can respond but I don’t have the tools necessary to be able to effectively respond in that timely manner.”
“I will definitely be more on edge,” said Navy veteran Ryan McCullough, who owned a handgun before he enlisted, storing it with his parents for his five years on base. He said he never felt he needed his personal weapon and was comforted by the fact that no one else had one. “You start hearing stories about soldiers having weapons at boot camp and turning on their own people. You’re like, ‘Oh, there’s a reason why they disarm these people on the base.’”
“I’m not just, you know, a purple hair, left-wing, somebody from California that … wants more gun control,” he said. “There were guards 24-7, right, making the rounds. There was people within your battalion checking on you. So I felt more safe there than I had ever felt before, which is surprising because I thought, ‘Okay, at home, I feel the most safe with my weapon.’”
And after a Navy buddy committed suicide with a firearm a few years ago, McCullough said he worries about more weapons on base, cautioning civilians who may cheer the change.
“It’s different for that person to own a weapon than it is for somebody who just got trained to kill and has lots of things going on and lots more stresses than you,” McCullough said.
“That does concern me, but I do hope that there’s going to be a vetted process whenever they do go through it,” Gilson said of the suicide risk. “Especially mental health check-up, and I think that the leaders will be able to gauge that pretty well, especially at the junior level. And I think that will help mitigate any further suicides, and I pray.”
Hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco is bringing his “Food & Liquor” 20th anniversary debut album tour to San Diego. Fiasco’s first studio album, “Food & Liquor,” was nominated for four Grammy Awards and the single “Daydreaming” featuring Jill Scott won a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Other singles off his debut LP were “Kick, Push” and “I Gotcha.” 7 p.m. Sunday. House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. $49.25-$206.50. 619-299-2583, sandiego.houseofblues.com/shows
Earl Thomas and The Anthony Cullins Band: Earl Thomas and Anthony Cullins will perform two free shows at Lou Lou’s. Thomas is a singer-songwriter who plays American soul, blues and roots rock. Cullins is a songwriter who plays guitar with rhythm and blues, soul, funk, jazz and rock influences. Cullins has also won San Diego Music Awards in the Best Blues Artist category in 2023 and 2024. Seating for both shows is on a first arrival basis and for those 21 years and older. 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Lou Lou’s, 2225 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. Free. loulousclub.com
Paul Anka: Singer, songwriter and actor Paul Anka is scheduled to perform his hits from the past seven decades at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. Some of his songs include “Diana,” “My Way,” “Puppy Love” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” He has also had songs on the Billboard charts during seven consecutive decades, according to event organizers. 9 p.m. Tuesday. Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, $120-$243. 800-745-3000, humphreysconcerts.com
Yungblud: In February, Yungblud released his fourth studio album “IDOLS” and now he is sharing his new music on his IDOLS world tour with a stop in San Diego. Yungblud mixes punk and rock with his vocals. The English musician has received multiple awards for his music and live performances, including the O2 Silver Clef Award for Best Live Act in 2022. 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Rady Shell, 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $88.33. 619-235-0804, theshell.org
Barrington Levy: The Jamaican-born Barrington Levy is back in San Diego with his reggae and dancehall vibes for one night at the Music Box. Levy has been making music since the 1970s and released his first four solo album in 1979. Levy has over 30 albums, with his newest LP “Acousticalevy” in 2015, and collaborated over the years with Bounty Killer, Cutty Ranks and Shyne. Last year, Levy’s 40th anniversary edition of his album, “Prison Oval Rock,” was released. Doah’s Daydream will be opening up the show. 8 p.m. Thursday. Music Box, 1337 India St., San Diego. $57. 619-795-1337, musicboxsd.com
Takuya Kuroda: Brooklyn-based and Japanese trumpet player Takuya Kuroda is taking the stage for a night of jazz at the Belly Up in Solana Beach. Last year he released his eighth studio album, “Everyday,” and a collaboration LP, “Add a Zero,” with Chris McCarthy and Sam Minaie. He has worked with hip-hop producer DJ Premier 8 p.m. Thursday. Belly Up, 143 South Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. $25. 858-481-8140, bellyup.com
Carlos Rico, Union-Tribune
San Diego, CA
Feeding San Diego explains the impact of high gas prices on fueling fleet & food rescue
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Gas prices in San Diego County have dipped slightly this week.
But the costs it takes to fill up a fuel tank are getting quite pricey for some food banks.
“We kind of have a triple whammy going on with the fuel situation,” Patty O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer for Feeding San Diego, said.
O’Connor said the first big hit with the current gas prices is bringing the food into Feeding San Diego’s food distribution center.
“We bring about 2 million pounds a month here, and a lot of that is, most of that is rescued food, but we still have to pay for the freight that cost us over $100,000 last month just in freight to bring that in,” O’Connor said.
The organization also sends that food out to the community by truck and by van.
“Every day you’ll see our bright orange trucks going out into the community. We do about 25 deliveries a day, but about 480 over the course of a month, and if you can imagine that costs a lot of money,” O’Connor said.
“In fact, last month, that cost us about $32,000 in just fuel costs. We rely on diesel fuel, and that was twice as much as it was a year ago.”
It’s not only more expensive to fuel the trucks delivering the food, but it’s also more expensive to keep what’s inside them cool.
“And then when we’re loading and unloading, we need to make sure that the trucks are running so that we can keep the food food-safe. So that’s a whole other part of this process that we are managing,” O’Connor said.
Feeding San Diego told ABC 10News they’ve heard from some partners that are on the food rescue side of things that it’s more expensive to drive to pick up those products. So they’ve been able to give some of those partners gas cards to pay for their gas to get food to the community that needs it.
“We look to the community to support us, and so far, um, San Diegans are generous, and they have been generous, and we really do need to continue that generosity so that we can support the struggling families throughout the county,” O’Connor said. “And whatever we can do to support those families, we are going to do so.”
Gloria relents on December Nights, some community cuts in budget revise, but arts funds still on chopping block
by City News Service | Times of San Diego
Some library and recreation center hours and December Nights support were restored in Mayor Todd Gloria’s revised Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Wednesday, but city funding for the arts could still be gutted.
Gloria was joined by civic leaders Wednesday morning to announce changes to his initial proposed budget, released last month. He added “targeted protections” of certain neighborhood priorities and maintained police and fire service levels while arriving at a balanced budget.
Proposed additions include protecting rec center and library hours in Council Districts 4, 8 and 9, represented by Henry L. Foster III, Vivian Moreno and Sean Elo-Rivera, respectively.
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The Learning Curve: He’s San Diego Unified’s Next Trustee – No Race Needed
By Jakob McWhinney | Voice of San Diego
The primary is still nearly a month away. The general election is even further out. Still, it’s already clear that Hayden Gore will be San Diego Unified’s next trustee. That’s because he’s running unopposed to fill the seat left open by current Trustee Cody Petterson, who opted not to run for re-election.
Though he’s a political newcomer, Gore was the early choice of San Diego Unified’s union. In fact, he was recruited by the former president of the San Diego Education Association to run for the seat.
It’s not hard to see why. He’s an avowed progressive and a longtime educator who led the then-newly formed union at High Tech High to its first contract. Exactly the kind of resume that would have SDEA champing at the bit.
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Join Us Friday, July 17, 2026 for the 11th Annual USD School of Law – RJS LAW Tax Institute
By RJS Law
The Institute is the premier annual tax event in San Diego. The region’s top tax attorneys, enrolled agents (EAs), certified public accountants (CPAs), law and business school professors will discuss topics including government loan relief and abuses, challenges in cross-border transactions, and practical and realistic solutions in trust, estate planning, and tax matters.
DATE AND TIME
Friday, July 17, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION
Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Theatre
5555 Marian Way, San Diego, CA 92110
EVENT STATUS
Open to the Public
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