Cruz formally asks McCain to examine guns on military bases

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Tuesday formally requested Senate Armed Services chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) convene hearings on whether U.S. troops should be allowed to carry personal weapons on military bases.

“There is great concern that Department of Defense policies which prevent service members from carrying weapons on military installations place an undue restriction on their second amendment rights and detract from their security,” Cruz wrote.

He noted that he wrote former Armed Services chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) about the topic last year and that the now-retired lawmaker indicated the Personnel subpanel would look into it. 

{mosads}“I once again urge the Senate Armed Services Committee to approach this important policy concern in a thoughtful and bipartisan manner, with input from Department of Defense and outside experts,” Cruz asked.

The missive could bring to a close the latest dust-up between 2016 presidential hopeful and McCain. 

During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, Cruz told a group of gun-owners he had been “pressing” McCain for hearing about the issue, a claim McCain openly mocked.

Tuesday morning, Cruz admitted he may have “misspoken” about his lobbying efforts.

For his part, McCain seems ready to bury the hatchet.

Cruz “issued a statement saying that he had not contacted me. I consider it over — correcting his mistake. I value him as a friend. He is a friend of mine and I value his leadership and participation on Armed Services,” the Arizona lawmaker told reporters Tuesday afternoon.

– Julian Hattem contributed