Guidelines and rules for owning weapons on base

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Barreiro
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

These words, found in the second amendment of the U.S. constitution, part of the original Bill of Rights, are familiar to many Americans. According to a report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Americans purchased more than 10.8 million firearms in 2011, a record breaking number.

While the right to own and bear arms is ingrained in American culture, residents of Little Rock Air Force Base should be aware there are restrictions and regulations for possessing privately owned weapons on base, including rules governing the transportation and storage of privately owned weapons on base. The base does not honor concealed carry permits.Permit holders are not allowed to carry a firearm on base, but that doesn't mean they can't transport a firearm from off-base to on or vice versa.

"There are specific rules to transport a (firearm) on base," said Maj. Peter Lex, 19th Security Forces Squadron commander. "When they're transported on base, it can only be to transport them to and from their storage facility, a point of sale, collector display events, or hunting events requiring their use."

Lex said that firearms cannot, under any circumstances, be stored in a vehicle on base, even by someone who possesses a conceal/carry permit. Individuals living on base housing must store their weapons in their home. For dorm residents or individuals on extended temporary duty assignments here, the base armory provides courtesy storage. Personnel residing off base should not bring their weapons on base, except for specific events on base that allow it, namely hunting, but even then they are required to sign in at the law enforcement desk on base.

Even when individuals are allowed to transport their weapon or firearm on base, there are specific rules on how to properly transport them, said Jeff Bardsley, 19th SFS chief of plans and programs.

"The (firearm) needs to be stored at the furthest point away from the driver, unloaded, in plain view, with the ammunition stored separately," said Bardsley.

Also, when transporting a weapon on base, personnel should remember they are required to take the weapon directly to its place of storage, on or off base, or the event happening on base they are taking it too, said Lex. The only exception is stopping at the law enforcement desk to sign in.

"It's important to remember this when transporting a weapon on base," he said. "Your vehicle is not an authorized storage location," he said.

Bardsley said it's equally important to declare possession of a weapon if ever pulled over or stopped by law enforcement on base or off, for any reason.

"If ever stopped by a security forces official, or any official, remember you should immediately declare a weapon to them," said Bardsley.

The rules and regulations concerning privately owned weapons on base are governed by the installation commander and all personnel on base, whether civilian employee, Airman, spouse or retiree, are required to abide by them, said Lex. In the future, people can expect to see registration rules for base residents who possess weapons.

"Weapons registration on base will become a requirement in the very near future," said Lex.

"If you live on base, and you have a privately owned weapon, you'll need to register through your unit, who will provide the information to security forces," he said.

All the installation rules and regulations on owning and possessing weapons are governed by Air Force Instruction 31-101, Installation Security Program, and the installation defense plan. Any questions can be directed to Bardsley at 987-6294.

"The rules on no concealed carry and those governing the transportation of weapons on base are appropriate as they help Security Forces maintain a safe and secure base."