House Sergeant-at-Arms William Walker revealed on Wednesday that he does not believe lawmakers should be permitted to carry firearms on the Capitol Complex — a departure from current policy, which allows members of Congress to bring D.C.-licensed firearms into Capitol buildings.
The revelation came in a letter Walker sent to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) that responded to a message the Maryland Democrat sent to the top security official calling for a ban on the use of firearms in the Capitol.
Walker said firearms should only be carried in the Capitol by U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service and security officials protecting foreign individuals.
“It is my view that the Capitol Complex should be a place where no one carries a firearm unless they are actively engaged in law enforcement or the protection work done by, among others, myself, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), the U.S. Secret Service, and the protective details of visiting foreign officials,” Walker wrote in the letter.
The note comes one day after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults. The massacre has reignited the gun control debate on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers conducting behind-the-scenes discussions regarding firearm regulations in the U.S.
Walker, in his letter to Hoyer, recognized that his determination will not be popular among some individuals, but emphasized that “the law is clear.”
“Regrettably, my position on this matter is not shared by all stakeholders. However, in my opinion, the law is clear, and the regulation is unambiguous,” he wrote.
“In closing, I would like to iterate my support for efforts to make the Capitol Grounds safer for all by further limiting the number of people who carry firearms here. I...