Military base carry... with a twist!

[daniel1113]

So, I just arrived in San Antonio ready to start my new job. Basically, I work as an engineer for a construction company that is doing a lot of construction down at Fort Sam Houston. Since our jobsite is located past the security gates of the base, I figured both concealed carry and vehicle carry of a handgun was going to be off limits.

However, today it came to my attention that base officials have decided to move the security gate further into the base passed the parking lot for our jobsite so that construction personnel do not have to go through the checkpoint. Naturally, this got me thinking about concealed/vehicle carry.

Since I will no longer be going through a security checkpoint, do you think it would be legal to carry? Or, would I still be in big trouble if caught with a handgun on our jobsite? Would it be worth contacting base officials for clarification?

As always, thanks in advance.

EDIT: As a clarification, I would only be on our jobsite, and the company has no provisions against gun possession.

 

[Robby]

Think about it this way! You job site is actually on a military reservation. Even though the check point has been moved, your doing work on the post property. Before I would think about carrying, I would check with base security, and get a positive response.

 

[daniel1113]

Indeed.

I suppose my real question is whether or not its really worth contacting base officials, or if I'd just be wasting my time.

 

[Robby]

That would be your call. If your going to be there a week, NO. If your going to be there for a year, YES!!!

 

[Happiness Is A Warm Gun]

As a kid I lived for a few years on Naval Weapon Station Concord. Being in CA during first Gulf War and NWSC supplies 70% of the wartime munitions to the fleets going to the Gulf there were a lot of protesters.

Mostly they were ignored but one group got too loud and close. They were just outside the gate. Imagine their surprise when the Marine MP showed up and began mass arresting them and cuffing them with zip ties. They all cried that they hadn't touched the fence. The military reservation begins 10ft from fence line. I got to witness this all because I was on my way home from school waiting to go into the gate when it all "went down".

What does this have to do with you?
Any rules that apply to the reservation apply to the entire reservation. The gate is not relevant.

In this situation the only thing moving the gates does is give you enough rope to hang yourself with.

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_search.pl?title=18&sec=930

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

 

[jagugator]

You could ask but I am pretty sure that the answer is going to be no. Our commissary (base grocery store) is a mile away from the gated base with no checkpoints to go through what so ever but as far as the rules and regulations go it is still considered a military installation.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Yes.......the answer will be NO.

 

[Hank Zudd]

on base possesion of long guns

I guess alot has changed in 20 years; once while stationed at Ft. Hood, a buddy of mine that lived off post was transfering all our guns into his car after a hunting session in the impact area (yes, you sign a waiver & you USED to be able to hunt in there)

Some off duty doo-gooder MP in glad rags saw us, flashed his badge and called a duty MP to check us out.
Showed him our hunting pass for the day; he looked at the mostly bolt action long guns & a few shotguns in the trunk & let my buddy leave.

I guess now we'd both be up the creek if we did that.

 

[daniel1113]

Great information, guys. I appreciate it!

 

[alsaqr]

Do not get get caught with a concealed handgun on an Army installation. If you were to get caught it is an automatic trip to the federal magistrate.

 

[mekender]

Since I will no longer be going through a security checkpoint, do you think it would be legal to carry? Or, would I still be in big trouble if caught with a handgun on our jobsite? Would it be worth contacting base officials for clarification?

no, yes, no... my advice is worth what you paid for it, but do you really want to take the chance on a trip to a federal court?

 

[M203Sniper]

The base commander can grant permission, just ask her.

 

[Eric F]

Take it from a guy that knows, I work for the Fed Gov on bases, I have been employed on several. Some dont care as there are several bases where they have open shoots ect. Others are less than friendly. I got turned around just for having a 5 gallon bucket of empty range brass in my truck. It is better to ask. If you dont and you get caught it could be a Felony offense in some cases.

 

[daniel1113]

Yes, I definitely wouldn't do it without asking first. I don't mess around when it comes to the feds, especially on a military base. Getting charged with a felony isn't high on my list of things to do while in San Antonio.

The part that disappoints me the most isn't not being able to carry. I can live with that. It's not being able to keep a gun in my car while at work. Who knows where I might want to go after work, and I'd hate to be disarmed.

Considering I will be working here for at least two years, I'll try and contact the base commander. The worst she could say is "no."

 

[Ohen Cepel]

You can ask, and I would be interested in hearing the answer.

However, I would be extremely surprised if it is anything but NO.

Depending on where the work is going on you may be better off leaving it in the car across the street. Make sure it's off Federal property there! That way you can at least have it to and from work.

I know it's a pain and I hate that I always have to swing by the house to drop off my pistol before I go onto post for anything.

I got hassled a few years ago for having a wooden Ak stock in the back seat of my truck, just the stock, nothing else. They are not real open minded about stuff.

 

[kevindsingleton]

I went to visit my son at the Air Force base in Little Rock, AR. I went into the guardhouse at the security gate to sign in for the overnight stay, and asked him if he wanted me to bring my firearm in for him to hang onto while I was on the base. His recommendation, "I wouldn't go waving that around." They had no interest in confiscating the firearm for the duration of my stay, and nobody ever asked about a CCW permit (I lived in Texas, at the time, and I had a Texas CCW permit).

I don't know that I'd recommend trying to "get away" with carrying on your job site, but I doubt you're going to encounter any real resistance, as long as you're reasonable about it. Ask the ranking officer on duty, and see what he, or she, says.

 

[Bullseye57]

Federal property is federal property, regardless where the fence is located. You would be violating base/federal regulations if you had a firearm, or ammunition, in your vehicle while on base property without proper authorization (some bases do allow firearms or hunting on post.) This also applies to any auxiliary federal property, under the supervision of the area commander, fenced or not. Each federal installation is required to conduct random vehicle inspections to look for prohibited items. You are subject to these inspections anytime when you enter or exit the property.

As a funny aside, once when I was still on active duty, I had just returned from a range trip. I took my firearms into the house and secured them. But I left some ammo cans in the back of my car. My bride decided to make a run to the base commissary and do some shopping. She saw my car in back and jumped in and took off. Well, she got stopped at the gate and randomly inspected. They got all excited, when they found the ammo cans and asked, "Maam do you know the back of your car is full of ammunition?" She said, "No," but explained that her husband had just come home from target shooting. They asked to see her I.D. then laughed and sent her home, once they saw her name and realized it was my car. They all knew me, as I was the person who trained and certified them to carry weapons on the base. I had no idea what had transpired until she came home and said, "That's the last time I take your car to the commissary!"

R,
Bullseye