personal guns in military armory (registration?)

[Skillet]

So, I am a proud new owner of a used Winchester model 94 (post 64), my first lever gun. But, instead of taking it home for some bonding time, I had to stick it where? the armory. being in the air force and living in the dormitories on base, I am required to do this. its just drives me nuts. I had to sign all sorts of documentation, including a paper titled "firearms registration" under authority of 10 USC 8013; Gun Control Act of 1968 (Lautenberg Amendment). It states that the principle purpose is "To record personal information on an individual who registers and stores his or her privately-owned firearm on an Air Force installation or facility. To maintain accountability of firearms, recorded when firearms are removed and returned to the facility, and determine the numbers and location of privately-owned firearms on an installation."
this paper displays the make, model, serial number, as well as my information on it. I know it is supposed to serve as a purpose of identification so I can get my gun back out of the armory, but the ridiculousness of why I have to do this in the first place just makes my blood boil (especially because I know the wonderful politician who made this crap up).
The real question is if this reaches beyond just installation paperwork, if this information gets recorded even when I check it out of the armory for good.

 

[daehawc]

While I completely agree with your frustrations (its one of my driving reasons why I've avoided base housing as much as possible) there is some comfort for you.

First of all, think about the gross inefficiencies you experience on a daily basis in your own job in the air force. How long does leave paperwork take to get routed etc. Now take comfort in the fact that the armory is likely just as jacked up and the chances the document makes it anywhere out side of the armory are pretty slim.

Secondly, when you do leave "for good," the vast majority of places dont require you to report private sales. If someone comes looking who knows if you recently may have sold it?

 

[Skillet]

true, but the process still bugs me. just because i happen to walk onto a military base, my rights are lost. I know I'm somewhat limited because of being IN the air force, but still. even lawful CC persons are prohibited. even if they live in base housing.

 

[medalguy]

When you PCS who would the information go to? There's no central registry (yet) (that we know of) that would maintain this information. When I was in the Air Force I had to do the same thing. It's just one of the things you have to agree to when you're in the military. As daehawc said, this is one good reason to try to live off-base if you can.

 

[daehawc]

On the Marine Corps side anyway, you can keep your weapon in base housing (not barracks or the Q). You still have to register them with the base but you can transport them to and from your house to off base all you want. You aren't supposed to stop for gas or at the commissary technically while transporting guns.

That being said, the last base I was at allowed me to register guns with the base If I wanted to bring them on. I had to have them unloaded and secured while on base but that gave me the option to at least have the gun there so I could load it once I got through the gate.

 

[mljdeckard]

Meh. I've done it, I didn't like it, but as a former armorer, I can assure you, they don't care about anything but making sure they have the required paperwork for the guns CURRENTLY in the arms room. If the gun was gone, I shredded the paperwork.

 

[Skillet]

thats comforting. They let me keep it in my case, locked up and all.

 

[paintballdude902]

you at mountain home?

im down at hurlburt and dealt with the same BS. i ended up not leaving any of my guns in the armory, theyre all at friends houses off base.

i heard allot of horror stories including an o-6 that checked in a mint colt python he purchased and came back and his unfired python had been fired, not cleaned and had a big scratch on it.

i talked to SF on the phone and they told me they would run the serial number and "make sure its registered to you"...... and that im free to get it when ever i want during the week as long as its before like 5pm but the armory is closed on the weekends.

it sounded like a PITA and i didnt want to leave my guns in someone elses care that i didnt trust, nor did i know.


btw keep the ammo out of the dorms too, we had some guy get in trouble for that here

 

[Rocketmedic]

Fort Bliss, TX, does not destroy records on PCS or ETS. Found out firsthand when I checked at the provost marshal after ets.

 

[Skillet]

actually I am initially from Boise, but i joined and now i'm in good old Cannon AFB, NM! go afsoc, and their base placement.

 

[Skillet]

i heard allot of horror stories including an o-6 that checked in a mint colt python he purchased and came back and his unfired python had been fired, not cleaned and had a big scratch on it.

holy cow. I almost feel bad for the poor soul that fired it. an O-6? jeez. If i found out that happened, I would probably go Hulk. they let me keep mine in the case locked up, so they cant play with it. it makes me feel a lot better

 

[CathyGo]

When I was in at Ft.Bliss I kept my guns and ammo at a storage unit off-post. Otherwise I would have had to buy ammo every time I went to the range and throw away the leftovers as it was not allowed in the barracks.

It was a PITA to coordinate going home on leave and taking my guns. I had to wait for the storage unit place to open in the morning and make sure I got back from Phoenix before it closed for the night. It was worth it though. Some people in my unit were of the opinion that gun owners were all whack jobs.

The military doesn't have a legal leg to stand on to require registration if your gun activities are exclusively off-post although a lot of units will tell you otherwise. I registered my first gun, a Marlin 60 kept off post, before I knew my rights but all my other guns were none of the Army's business and stayed that way.

 

[CathyGo]

Fort Bliss, TX, does not destroy records on PCS or ETS. Found out firsthand when I checked at the provost marshal after ets.

When I worked as an MP on Ft. Bliss them not destroying the records was a problem. We would respond to a domestic with "7 registered weapons" and find out that none of them were registered to the current occupants. They need to fix that.

 

[SabbathWolf]

When I had POWs in the army, I'm pretty sure that paperwork went all the way to DoD or DoA. I forget now.
But I also brought some home from overseas and had the AFT involved too. I can't remember all the details now.

EDIT: Privately Owned Weapons....not prisoners.....lol

 

[WC145]

Their house, their rules.

 

[Bobson]

The only reason I never bought a single gun when I was in the Air Force was because I wasn't willing to put it in the armory. Always pissed me off too. Makes no sense at all.

 

[SabbathWolf]

The only reason I never bought a single gun when I was in the Air Force was because I wasn't willing to put it in the armory. Always pissed me off too. Makes no sense at all.

The army it is a rank thing. I don't know about the AF.
In the army, once you were no longer lower enlisted, you could keep you guns in your quarters. I loved getting promoted just for that reason alone.

 

[Bobson]

The army it is a rank thing. I don't know about the AF.
In the army, once you were no longer lower enlisted, you could keep you guns in your quarters. I loved getting promoted just for that reason alone.

I can't say for sure. I separated from the Air Force after my first four-year contract was up, and I lived in the dorms the whole time. Maybe for E-5 and up, in base housing, they were allowed to keep firearms.

I vaguely recall a "No Guns" type of sign at the main entrance to the base, but I can't be certain about it.

ETA:

Dormitory and base housing residents with privately owned firearms are required to register them with the 99th Security Forces Group upon arrival at Nellis. Dormitory residents and personnel residing in the temporary lodging facility must store their privately owned firearms in the security forces armory.

(Link to the info)
There's the answer. Living in the dorms or temporary lodging? Store it at the armory. So E-5 and up on base housing always were allowed to store their guns in their homes. Neat-o.

 

[breakingcontact]

Military life is about maximum control. Just imagine if the government ran everything like they do on base and its basically the soviet union.

Shop at 1 PX. Alcohol at Class 6 store. DFACS serve government food. Can't go into recreation areas without exercising.

Unfortunately as gross as registering your guns on base is...its what you signed up for.

Get that GI Bill and get out with some skills or put in your 20 (and prepare for life after service).

 

[Bobson]

Man. I got out in '08, and I really enjoyed my time in the Air Force overall. I'm wrapping up my B.S. very soon (thanks, GI Bill! ) and was kicking around the possibility of going back in as an officer. This thread has given me things to consider that hadn't crossed my mind in years.

 

[SabbathWolf]

Military life is about maximum control. Just imagine if the government ran everything like they do on base and its basically the soviet union.

Shop at 1 PX. Alcohol at Class 6 store. DFACS serve government food. Can't go into recreation areas without exercising.

Unfortunately as gross as registering your guns on base is...its what you signed up for.

Get that GI Bill and get out with some skills or put in your 20 (and prepare for life after service).

You left out the part about tuition assistance while still in.
Get a degree while still serving for cheap.
Stay till you retire.
Free medical for you and your family for life after that and a retirement check to boot....if you survive till retirement.
I'll tell ya man, my wife deserves more medals than me just for putting up with all the crap and time it took to reach retirement....lol

 

[Reloadron]

I had to sign all sorts of documentation, including a paper titled "firearms registration" under authority of 10 USC 8013; Gun Control Act of 1968 (Lautenberg Amendment).

I can understand Title 10 USC 8013 as it relates to the Secretary of the Air Force and I can understand the GCA of 1968 but what I don't understand is how the Lautenberg Amendment to the GCA of 1968 figures in? I know what the Lautenberg Amendment was and why it was I just don't get the connection as it is used here?

Around 1970 through early 1972 I was stationed at MCAS Cherry Point NC. While living in the barracks on base as an E4 I had to keep my personal firearms in the barracks armory. Wasn't really a big deal. Never had to complete a bunch of forms back then that I recall. When I moved off base I took my guns with me.

Ron

 

[Hacker15E]

Man. I got out in '08, and I really enjoyed my time in the Air Force overall. I'm wrapping up my B.S. very soon (thanks, GI Bill! ) and was kicking around the possibility of going back in as an officer. This thread has given me things to consider that hadn't crossed my mind in years.

Like what?

If you don't live on base, then the topic is a non-issue.

 

[Skillet]

I know what the Lautenberg Amendment was and why it was I just don't get the connection as it is used here?

It has a lot to do with if you are legal to own a firearm or not. Reading the forms, its mainly to find out if you have ever been convicted of a crime, ect... mainly, it is to find out if you can legally own it in the first place. the air force doesn't want to store a gun of an armed forces member going through court marshall for a felony, ya know? as if the background check they give you when you join isn't enough. All paperwork like that serves multiple purposes. to please a politician, to CYA the Military, and to keep record so they can give it back to you. I was told all of it gets shredded when the gun is for good checked out, which makes sense because those security forces guys have enough paperwork to begin with i bet.

 

[Reloadron]

It has a lot to do with if you are legal to own a firearm or not. Reading the forms, its mainly to find out if you have ever been convicted of a crime, ect... mainly, it is to find out if you can legally own it in the first place. the air force doesn't want to store a gun of an armed forces member going through court marshall for a felony, ya know? as if the background check they give you when you join isn't enough. All paperwork like that serves multiple purposes. to please a politician, to CYA the Military, and to keep record so they can give it back to you. I was told all of it gets shredded when the gun is for good checked out, which makes sense because those security forces guys have enough paperwork to begin with i bet.

Now I "get it".

Thanks
Ron