H.R. 8680 proposes to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 by establishing a rebuttable presumption that members of the Armed Forces can carry personal firearms on military installations. This means that service members would generally be allowed to carry their own guns while on base unless there are specific reasons to prohibit it.
Supporters of H.R. 8680 argue that allowing service members to carry personal firearms enhances their personal safety and security, especially in light of rising concerns about violence on military installations. Proponents suggest that this bill empowers military personnel and acknowledges their rights to self-defense.
Critics of H.R. 8680 express concerns that allowing more firearms on military installations could lead to increased risks of accidents and incidents of gun violence. Opponents argue that the presence of more personal firearms may complicate security protocols and could undermine the safety of both military personnel and civilians on bases.
The risk of conflict of interest for this bill appears to be low. The sponsor, Jeff Crank, does not have any direct overlaps between his top donor industries and the subject matter of the bill, which pertains to the authorization of carrying personal firearms on military installations. However, there is lobbying activity in this bill's policy area from various entities. Notably, NSIGHT HEALTH, INC., a donor to the sponsor, has undisclosed lobbying activity. While this does not directly suggest a conflict of interest, it does warrant some attention. Other entities, such as the AMERICAN COMPOSITES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION and NATIONAL ENERGY & FUELS INSTITUTE, have disclosed lobbying amounts of $20,000 and $60,000 respectively, but these do not appear to be directly related to the bill's subject matter or the sponsor's donors.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area. 1 lobbying client(s) are also sponsor donors.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NSIGHT HEALTH, INC. Also a Donor | MONTICELLO ADVISORY GROUP | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL ENERGY & FUELS INSTITUTE | NATIONAL ENERGY & FUELS INSTITUTE | $60,000 |
| GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | $21,000 |
| AMERICAN COMPOSITES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION | AMERICAN COMPOSITES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION | $20,000 |
| LEONARDO DRS, INC | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | $15,000 |
| HOPFLYT INC | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | $10,000 |
| SL STRATEGIES OBO AANA | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | $10,000 |
| CLEARINGHOUSE CDFI | MONTICELLO ADVISORY GROUP | undisclosed |
| WING AVIATION LLC | WING AVIATION LLC | undisclosed |
| ROBERT TRENT JONES II LLC | PLATINUM ADVISORS DC, LLC | undisclosed |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS | PLATINUM ADVISORS DC, LLC | undisclosed |
| ALLIANCE OF PROFESSIONALS & CONSULTANTS ON BEHALF OF IBM CORP | PLATINUM ADVISORS DC, LLC | undisclosed |
| SAVE GREATER DOWSES BEACH | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| GDX CORPORATION | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
| TOWN OF NANTUCKET, MA | HITHER CREEK STRATEGIES, LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Jeff Crank, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
