Firearms on Military Base

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buckshott

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I am a CCW holder. I live about 3 hours from a Military Base. I go there 4 times a year for Meds and medical treatment. Can I declare and check a unloaded firearm at the MP checkpoint when entering the Base? I am only there about 3 to 4 hours. I use to just put it in the trunk, but with the recent trouble at Ft.Hood, I am hesitant about doing that. I thought about calling the Security Forces on Base. Any advice?
 
I'll be the first to reply though my only experience is from being stationed on Ft. Hood. There should be a Visitor Center before entering the front gate. Call them. There should be a base security force of some sort in there and they will inform you specifically. You should be able to check your firearm in there and then enter the base. No big deal. Probably better than getting stuck in a random search at the gate. That never ended well anybody.
 
Keep putting it in the trunk before you get there. The front gate MP post has no way to securely store your firearm. Post will direct you to the MP office or Conservation/Hunting lodge where it will be a bureaucratic mess logging in the gun, and later checking it back out again.

Just say no, put it in a secure lockbox in the vehicle, and don't worry about it. If they don't know, they don't have to jump thru hoops to do something they have no facilities or procedures to handle. Nada.

Vet, 22 years, IN/MP, I've been on plenty of posts and worked Ft. Benning six months there. In all the train up and duty, no mention of civilians needing to check in firearms or any place to do it. WE did for duty guns, a 45 minute ordeal before and after shift. Made for a long day.

It's really no different that any other small town, we don't check our firearms in at the police station just because we happen to be visiting.
 
Website? PMO?....

Did you check the FAQ section of the base website? You might also contact the base PMO(Provost Marshal Office). They may be able to explain the SOPs or current DoD regulations for weapons/visitors(retired service members).
In 2013, I went by my second duty station; Fort Lee VA. A DA contracted security guard was at the rear gate. He just checked my state DL & DMV reg.
I didn't have my pistol or any weapons on me.
The post didn't change much since the early 1990s. It was a bit run-down & drab but active duty troops do not really run or manage CONUS installations anymore due to budget cuts & new policy, :rolleyes: .
SECDEF Robert Gates changed a few weapon/firearm regulations after the events at the Pentagon & the 2009 Fort Hood(Major Hassan) incident.
BTW; that was classified as a "work place violence" incident by the DA/DoD even though MAJ Hassan claimed he did the shooting to "protect Taliban leaders" :mad:

Rusty
 
It's a crap shoot. The gate has the right to search your vehicle if they want to. (Part of the requirement for permission to enter the base). It can be for a reason or just random. If you feel lucky, go for it, but remember, as posted on a sign at the entry to one Naval Air Station I was at.."Unauthorized firearms will be confiscated and destroyed."
 
Listen to Tirod. I've been going on base 2-3 times a week for 25 years and never had my car searched. The rule at the local AFB is, they check your military ID (but don't compare the photo to your face), scan it into their database, say "have a good day" and wave you through. By regs, you can have 10 other people in the vehicle and no one checks them at all.

There's a sign at the gate that says "No concealed weapons". Does that apply to a gun that's locked in your trunk? I don't think so, but I haven't asked.
 
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The biggest problem is that most post's policies are on secure websites and if you do not have a post account, you can't know.

I have called Ft Carson on four different occasions and have gotten six different answers from, "You aren't allowed to own a gun if you aren't in the Army!" to "If you have a CCW, you can carry anywhere."

I know neither are correct and it really sucks that I am not allowed to know. I live 80 miles away so we do all of our shopping, not just on post, and there are many places in Colorado Springs I would never be caught in without a gun. So I have two options, go completely defenseless, or risk getting locked up at Leavenworth.
 
Maybe leave the gun at home those 3 or 4 times a year? Is it so likely that you will be attacked that you do not dare be without your gun at any time?

Jim
 
I would not enter a military base with a gun in the car today. I bought a Winchester Model 12 from an Air Force officer at Scott Air Force Base Illinois many years back. Was a little nervous taking the gun OFF the base then. Had a receipt from the guy and not problems.
 
And I shoot at the rod and gun club on base every Sunday when I am aboard. Carry in, carry out. Not a problem for sporting purposes.

CCW is not posted as a rule, but I personally would not push my luck.


Willie

.
 
As a civilian you can register weapons for on-base approval. You can legally posess as long as it's cleared ahead of time. I had 2 registered to go to the local army range and hit 1000m iron maidens. It's a little paperwork but no big hassle...I wouldn't want to be caught illegally in possession on a base. Go the legal route.
 
Two simple choices on this...Register the weapon on post,,,Leave the weapon at home.
 
"As a civilian you can register weapons for on-base approval. You can legally posess as long as it's cleared ahead of time."


This is very service and individual base dependant. Where I work there is no pre-approval required, for either civil or military personnel. The only caveat where I am is that no weapons are allowed in transient housing (BOQ, Lodge,TLF, etc). In permanent housing it's not a problem.


Willie

.
 
For the few times I go on the air bases here, I just leave the gun(s) at home.

I would find out what the law is and follow it, whatever that is.
 
One commentator proposed that the president issue an EO banning privately owned guns for all active duty military personnel, all reserve personnel and all national guard members. I suppose it could be done for active duty, but I don't see how the president could control the actions of reserve and NG members. But then this president seems to be pushing the envelope on the limits of his phone and pen.

Jim
 
It's my understanding that, at least to some extent, firearms policy is up to the base commander.

I think it's important to check and find out exactly what the rules are at that base. I suspect that a misstep could have an unhappy outcome.
 
If you put it in your trunk, and then are searched, and it is found, you are in a whole heap of trouble. I have been searched several times over the years at both Lackland AFB and Ft. Sam Houston.

If you try and check the firearm, it is a hassle.

An even bigger hassle to get it back.

I see where someone suggests that you leave it home. Very good suggestion. I live south of San Antonio and go to Ft. Sam Houston or Lackland AFB several times a month. I just leave it home, not worth the hassle
 
There is no Federal law prohibiting personally-owned firearms on military installations. USC Title 18 Section 930 only prohibits carrying in Federal facilities.

Most bases that don't allow firearms are doing so based on the installation commander's policy.
 
When I was at Fort Lenard wood. You use to be able to unload an lock it in the trunk. The last time I went to visit no Weapons were allowed on post until after they were registered with the post marshal. And that could take up to a week. I was only there for a week so I did not register and did not take it on post.
 
Everything I've ever read, here or elsewhere, claims that firearms policies are pretty much under the control of the base commander.

The wisest course, seems to me, is to find out exactly what the rules are before entering a military base. Telephone the base security folks, or enter gunless and ask.
 
i often hunt and shoot on Ft. Sill, OK. Any weapon brought onto the base must be registered: Registration is in a Pentagon database. A civilian or military retiree caught with an unregistered weapon on base can be cited by law enforcement. Such a citation will require a trip to the federal magistrate.
 
Best to check with the Provost Marshal's office or Security Police if Air Force.

The typical policy I encounter nowadays is like the one at JRB Ft. Worth, otherwise known as Carswell AFB, but now owned by the Navy. "Concealed weapons are never allowed on Navy installations, regardless of local law."

http://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrsw/om/csadd/firearms.html

Whatever the policy was at a given base last week might be different today.

I guarantee that Ft. Hood and others are ramping up their random checks. You do not want to get caught in one.

I leave weapons at home when going on base/post. Don't need the hassle.
 
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