Are personal firearms allowed in on base housing?

SPC Josh Tharp — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:55:11 -0400

I have a couple of registered personal firearms and my wife has a couple as well. Will we be able to take them when we PCS? Are there any processes that we need to be aware of regarding registering them for on base housing?

Thanks in advance!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 1:05 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:05:43 -0400

Has to be registered with the provost Marshall first

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 1:09 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:09:48 -0400

If you are going to be living on-post, you will have to register them with the post PMO. You will be able to keep them in your on-post residence, but you cannot transport them, with the exception of taking them off-post to shoot, and then back on post to *directly* return them to your quarters.

If you will be living off-post, then there is no restriction or registration necessary.

If you live in barracks, you will have to register your firearms, and keep them in the company arms room. Or you can not disclose you own them (unless there is a local policy that requires you report all firearms owned), and keep them off post in a storage facility.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 1:15 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:15:07 -0400

I have never known a base to allow personal firearms in Base Housing. Only secured in the unit Arms Room. Contact your base Provost Marshal office and they will be able to answer that question with certainty.

Response by Maj Robert Thornton made Aug 24 at 2020 1:29 PM

Maj Robert Thornton — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:29:26 -0400

I don't know if they still do this anymore, but whenever I PCS'd I had added to my orders that I was authorized to move my firearms in my POV. I did this to avoid hassles with any local or state LEO'S.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 2:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:11:43 -0400

You should check with the base you're going to.

This is for JBLM:
Storing / Transporting Personal Weapons
For individuals residing on JBLM weapons must be stored in either a Unit Arms Room or in family quarters. Firearms stored in family quarters will be stored in a
locked container or secured with a trigger lock. Ammunition will be stored in a separate locked container.
Weapons can only be carried in a vehicle when traveling to and from authorized hunting, target practice, matches, or off post locations.
When transporting weapons, they must be secured in the vehicle's trunk or, if the vehicle doesn't have a lockable trunk, encased in such a manner that it's not
readily accessible to the driver or passengers.
Weapons must be transported unloaded and ammunition must be stored separately from the weapon.
The registration form must be readily available at all times while a weapon is located on JBLM property.
When entering JBLM vehicle occupants are required to declare the presence of any firearms located in the vehicle
Concealed weapon permits are not valid on JBLM.

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Aug 24 at 2020 3:09 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 15:09:53 -0400

As a retiree while traveling and staying on military installations for the night and traveling with your weapons in your vehicle if within sight of the gate personnel then your required to turn them over to them and follow them to the base armory where it will be checked in. When you leave the base you can retrieve them and be on your way. It matters not if you have a concealed carry permit and your traveling in a reciprocity state. When I was living in base housing we were allowed to keep our weapons in our homes but we could only carry them on or off base when coming or going. They had to be unloaded while transporting them.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 24 at 2020 4:17 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 16:17:29 -0400

Al of the bases I have been to require storage in the unit Arms Room. Things may have changed by location. Call the local PMO at the base you are heading too. If it is overseas it is much more challenging and really not worth the effort.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Aug 24 at 2020 4:47 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 16:47:09 -0400

Contact PMO for the installation and clear the process and requirements directly with the source.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 6:27 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 18:27:56 -0400

Short answer: Yes, they are allowed, but as stated by other users, they need to be registered on-post at the PMO (which also means you'll be reporting it to your command in the process). Some installations will allow a grace period to register when you PCS, but you'll have to read up on that (probably in your installation's blue book), it's 'smarter' to begin the registration process before you PCS though.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 11:46 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 23:46:05 -0400

Here on Fort Huachuca they are. I just had to register them at the gate.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2020 4:06 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:06:47 -0400

You will be required to register the firearms with PMO, but that comes with some important caveats:

1. There are multiple rules that you must follow regarding storage, based on local policy. Often it is directed for forearms to be stored in a locked container unloaded. This is probably not an issue while living on post, as the threat of home invasion is likely less in military housing. Regardless, the only time my house was ever robbed was in Fort Riley family housing. So I definitely prefer to keep home defense firearms loaded, though they are locked in a digitally-coded safe.

2. You are effectively surrendering your ability to conceal and carry. The rules regarding entering and exiting the gates make it cumbersome and inconvenient for individuals to comply with the law. For example, you will probably have to stop the vehicle, unload your firearm, and place it in the trunk to be in compliance. Some installations restrict your ability to have a weapon in the vehicle "to and from the shooting/hunting area", creating a gray area where concealed carry might not be realistic. With violent rioters blocking roads and attacking innocent people all over the US, there's no way I would give up my ability to defend myself.

3. If you are involved in an investigation, even if you are not the subject or a suspect, you could be required to surrender your firearms if ordered by the command. Since all your guns have been registered with the PMO, they will know exactly what to take. If you don't live on post, nobody knows what property you own unless you voluntarily disclose that information. Personally, I lost all my guns in a boating accident in over 800 feet of water. Very tragic and sad...

Personally, these restrictions are a deal breaker for me. But living off post, I have always found much better value for my BAH anyway. You usually get more yard, square footage, and higher quality. I haven't lived in post housing since 2005. Best of luck!

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Aug 25 at 2020 9:11 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 09:11:32 -0400

I believe that at most places the guvment has given housing to private contractors. So it would depend on the stance of the landlord company. Check lease before you sign. Now even civilians and retirees, among others, can rent base housing as the private owners do not maintain them to the guvment standards of the facilities engineers and active military shun them. So the companies have all these houses and loosing money.