Storing gun while staying on military base

Rent a locker at the bus station. Or find a gunsmith and pay for a gun cleaning and request a specific day when it will ready to pick up.

Firearms Policy
Personal firearms must be declared, then turned in at the armory to be stored. The maximum storage period is 2 weeks. Registration paperwork is required and a background check will be performed.

https://www.militarycampgrounds.us/florida/sigsbee-rv-park

(305) 293-4432 - Rentals: (305) 293-5000

You could rent a safe deposit box at the bank, depending on bank a small box rents for about $30 a year give or take a few.

The gunsmith/shop option sounds like the least hassle. If , that is , you can find one you are comfortable with.
At least you are dealing with the situation in Florida.

NAS Key West can be a real pain for lots of things, and Key West is a different environment than most if not all people on THR are accustomed to. "Gun culture" is pretty much absent on KW, and probably anywhere in the keys. You maybe could try to drop off your weapon(s) at a gun shop on the mainland (think Florida City, Miami, et.) which is about 150 miles away from KW. I would never do something to violate base regs, since those SP's "might" actually take the time to search every inch of that big RV- you never know, they may look inside the furniture, cereal boxes in a grocery bag, etc.

yeongjo said:

Firearms Policy
Personal firearms must be declared, then turned in at the armory to be stored. The maximum storage period is 2 weeks. Registration paperwork is required

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From where?
There is no federal firearm "registration paperwork" and the overwhelming majority of states don't have "registration paperwork" either. Someone wrote a policy that cannot be fulfilled.

and a background check will be performed......

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By who, for what reason and above all why?
Again, sounds like the campground/facility is inventing rules.

Waveski said:

The gunsmith/shop option sounds like the least hassle. If , that is , you can find one you are comfortable with.
At least you are dealing with the situation in Florida.

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Understand that transferring possession to a gun dealer in another state may be an issue.
"Temporary storage" is not an exemption to the GCA '68. If you transfer a firearm to a licensed dealer, whether for storage, consignment sale, etc........you have to complete a Form 4473 and NICS to get it back. Being that the OP is not a resident of Florida, a Florida dealer cannot transfer the handgun to him.

There IS an exemption under federal law for the return of a repaired firearm, no 4473/NICS required. But that needs to be a bonafide repair (and yes, cleaning and a function check are typical gunsmithing services). Be aware that a state may have additional regulations.

dogtown tom said:

From where?
There is no federal firearm "registration paperwork" and the overwhelming majority of states don't have "registration paperwork" either. Someone wrote a policy that cannot be fulfilled.


By who, for what reason and above all why?
Again, sounds like the campground/facility is inventing rules.




Understand that transferring possession to a gun dealer in another state may be an issue.
"Temporary storage" is not an exemption to the GCA '68. If you transfer a firearm to a licensed dealer, whether for storage, consignment sale, etc........you have to complete a Form 4473 and NICS to get it back. Being that the OP is not a resident of Florida, a Florida dealer cannot transfer the handgun to him.

There IS an exemption under federal law for the return of a repaired firearm, no 4473/NICS required. But that needs to be a bonafide repair (and yes, cleaning and a function check are typical gunsmithing services). Be aware that a state may have additional regulations.

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Military base commanders are allowed considerable authority over privately owned weapons on the base and can institute measures that go far beyond federal laws. On most bases a private weapon owned by a military member living on base must be registered with the military police and the weapon must be stored in the owner's unit armory unless the member lives in family housing. They may keep the firearm in their home. Military personnel living in the barracks must keep it in the unit armory. I have heard of some bases that require the firearm owner to obtain permission from his unit commander before being able to take it from the unit armory to shoot at a range or just for cleaning.
In the situation of a military member living off base there is no requirement to register a weapon with the military police unless the military base has a shooting range open to the military members for private use of their privately owned firearm. To be able to utilize the shooting range the weapon must be registered with the military police so as to be legal when bringing the firearm on base.

I would assume, based on my military service, the weapon(s) will have to be registered with the military police office for accountability of the firearm(s) by the military while stored in the armory. The background check is probably another CYA for the military to make sure the gun owner is legally allowed to possess a firearm. You can't assume the individual possessing the guns is legally allowed to possess them just because they are in his possession.

dogtown tom said:

From where?
There is no federal firearm "registration paperwork" and the overwhelming majority of states don't have "registration paperwork" either. Someone wrote a policy that cannot be fulfilled.

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The military does not have to follow all federal gun laws, They can make on base restrictions much tougher than civil laws are. And it has always been that way. As others have stated, each base commander can set their own regulations on top of military wide regulations.

I have been stationed at some bases where anyone under the rank of E5 could not have private firearms at all on base, while others only allowed it if the service member lived in on base housing. Other bases didn't have restrictions based on rank. Anyone that lives in the barracks must keep all private firearms in the unit arms room. Or at least that is how it was when I was in. And every base I was at, we had to register each and every firearm with the Provost Marshal office. I also had to put personal ID marks on all of my firearms made prior to 1968 that did not have a serial number. When I was at Ft. Irwin/NTC 95-96, I even had to register my compound bow.

George Dickel said:

Military base commanders are allowed considerable authority over privately owned weapons on the base and can institute measures that go far beyond federal laws. ...........................The background check is probably another CYA for the military to make sure the gun owner is legally allowed to possess a firearm. .

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I understand the base commanders authority, but that has nothing to do with my post.
There is no federal firearm registration. What documents do you think someone would provide to meet that requirement?

You can't assume the individual possessing the guns is legally allowed to possess them just because they are in his possession

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Oddly, Texas police officers do that every day.

12Bravo20 said:

The military does not have to follow all federal gun laws.....

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Who said they did? Not me.
I questioned the base requirement to provide "Registration paperwork".
I'm an FFL, I've transferred 25,000+ firearms with ZERO "registration paperwork" for the buyer/transferee......it doesn't exist. Tens of millions of firearms have no such "registration paperwork".
Do you see the problem?

dogtown tom said:

I'm an FFL, I've transferred 25,000+ firearms with ZERO "registration paperwork" for the buyer/transferee......it doesn't exist. Tens of millions of firearms have no such "registration paperwork".

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I think you have misunderstood the statement. This is what was written: "Registration paperwork is required and a background check will be performed." I interpret that to mean that the firearm registration and associated paperwork will be performed at the campground. (Or armory, base entry point, whatever...)

Tim

dogtown tom said:

I understand the base commanders authority, but that has nothing to do with my post.
There is no federal firearm registration. What documents do you think someone would provide to meet that requirement?

Who said they did? Not me.
I questioned the base requirement to provide "Registration paperwork".
I'm an FFL, I've transferred 25,000+ firearms with ZERO "registration paperwork" for the buyer/transferee......it doesn't exist. Tens of millions of firearms have no such "registration paperwork".
Do you see the problem?

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As TimRB stated, the registration paperwork is for on base only and has absolutely nothing to do with off base or with any federal regulations. Military installations, to include recreational areas/campgrounds, are basically their own little world and have way more strict laws and regulations than off base. In fact all federal installations are that way. Don't try having a weapon even in the parking lot of a VA hospital or outpatient clinic.

I suggest you call the campground office and ask. I feel quite certain it will not be the first time. The question has bee asked. If they tell that you cannot bring a gun onto the property, you might ask them if they have a recommendation for a place to securely store it during your visit. You might find that that have provisions on-site. To secure the gun.

dogtown tom said:

I understand the base commanders authority, but that has nothing to do with my post.
There is no federal firearm registration. What documents do you think someone would provide to meet that requirement?


Oddly, Texas police officers do that every day.







Who said they did? Not me.
I questioned the base requirement to provide "Registration paperwork".
I'm an FFL, I've transferred 25,000+ firearms with ZERO "registration paperwork" for the buyer/transferee......it doesn't exist. Tens of millions of firearms have no such "registration paperwork".
Do you see the problem?

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I don't have a problem. As I said, based on my experience in the Army as a Military Policeman, I am quite sure the registration paperwork required is generated by the base military police office. Not a state or federal registration which I know doesn't exist in many states. The base registration allows the visitor to legally have the firearm on the base. As far as the background check it is a CYA on the base commander's part to insure the person is legally allowed to possess a firearm.

I have stored firearms on half a dozen bases. As a soldier. Doing so as a civilian would be nigh impossible in my opinion. On Army bases, the Provost Marshal is one of the determining authorities when making a consideration about firearms on base, other than the commander. Not sure how the Navy does things so contacting them would be a shot in the dark.

There was an earlier suggestion to drop it off at a gunsmith for a cleaning or some other work with a set date on when to pickup. That would be easier than finding a locker or some other storage.

herrwalther said:

I have stored firearms on half a dozen bases. As a soldier. Doing so as a civilian would be nigh impossible in my opinion. On Army bases, the Provost Marshal is one of the determining authorities when making a consideration about firearms on base, other than the commander. Not sure how the Navy does things so contacting them would be a shot in the dark.

There was an earlier suggestion to drop it off at a gunsmith for a cleaning or some other work with a set date on when to pickup. That would be easier than finding a locker or some other storage.

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It's not really, we now have DA civilians (Actually the term changed to ACPs for Army Civilian Professionals) residing on our post as the housing was privatized a few years back. Something like 80% of the base housing is now privatized army wide. Priority still goes to uniformed members, but I know several regular ACPs (GS12s and 13s) that live on post as well as a couple of our SGSs (GO equivalent civilian).

Also we have a Skeet/trap range that probably has more civilian shooters than mil.

As part of the base housing privatization process legislated by Public Law 104-106, the Defense Department says that, when the number of vacant homes on any base rises above a certain level, the contractor can rent them to anyone it likes. The program is available on only some bases. Check with your local housing office for details.

While all of the housing areas are different -- some have yard maintenance and utilities included, while some don't; some will rent only to DoD civilians and military retirees, while others may rent to anyone; each housing company has its own set of rules, but they generally follow the federal guidelines.

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https://www.military.com/money/home...lians-want-live-base-housing-yes-you-can.html

here's the form we use on FLKS:

https://home.army.mil/leavenworth/a...3239/DES_Weapons_Registration_Application.pdf

Note the section for civilians.

Chuck R. said:

It's not really, we now have DA civilians (Actually the term changed to ACPs for Army Civilian Professionals) residing on our post as the housing was privatized a few years back. Something like 80% of the base housing is now privatized army wide. Priority still goes to uniformed members, but I know several regular ACPs (GS12s and 13s) that live on post as well as a couple of our SGSs (GO equivalent civilian).

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That is interesting, but...when I use the term civilian I am referring to anyone that does not have a CAC on their person. Someone with no connection to the DOD. DA civilians and the non-uniformed support staff have abilities that a guy in an RV showing up don't have.

That was probably the best solution. Enjoy the vacation.

GravelRider said:

For three nights we're staying at a military RV park in Key West.

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Call them.
Naval Air Station Key West, Florida
(305) 293-4408


Update: just saw your update op cit where you dropped the weapon off at gunstore/cleaning. Fortunate circumstance.
That said, I recommend all here call the provost marshall (or the like) at any military base/post/station ahead of time.
Get the straight scoop.

GravelRider said:

I already called them

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Good show . . .
(and good info)

How’s the trip going? Did you see any dolphins or other fish yet?