Why does my personally owned weapon have to be added to the commander's hand receipt if I wanted to hold it in the armsroom?

SGT Niel Chase — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:39:05 -0500

I want to carry my weapon with me to and from post, since I live off post, and stay within legal guidelines. However, I found that if I wanted to place my weapon in the armsroom during the day while at work and get it out at COB to go home it would have to be added to the commander's hand receipt. Not only that but it would have to be accounted for in every 100% inventory. Why is there not a way for service members to carry their weapons to and from work, hold it in the armsroom and then get it out at the end of the day? It seems a bit ridiculous to me.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 19 at 2014 10:06 PM

SFC James Baber — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:06:44 -0500

Because if there is ever an installation physical security inspection how are they going to explain an undocumented weapon in the Arms room, everyone from the Armorer up to the CDR is going to jail, that is why.

POWs are authorized to be stored, they have to be accounted for via the installation and the way to do that is to be on the CDR running hand receipt for the arms room, common sense is where the mentality comes from, and it also protects you, because if something happens to it after you turn it in, you are not liable for anything improper that is done with it, doesn't that make sense to you for your protection as well.

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 19 at 2014 10:35 PM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 22:35:00 -0500

Who told you it had to be added to the hand receipt? I've never heard that. I have heard of them making Soldiers who live in barracks store guns there, as well as some that live off base, but I've never heard of it having to be added to the hand receipt. I had a Soldier that lived in the barracks and he stored his in the arms room. All he had to do was sign it in and out showing when it was there and when it wasn't but he didn't have to add it to the Commanders hand receipt. I could be wrong but it just doesn't sound right for it to be on his hand receipt. There are other ways to account for it during a physical security inspection.

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 19 at 2014 11:13 PM

SSG Zachery Mitchell — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 23:13:51 -0500

This is what I found in AR 190-11:

4–5. privately-owned
weapons and ammunition

a. Commanders will
ensure privately-owned arms and ammunition (including authorized war trophies)
are protected on their installations and
facilities. Based upon local requirements and availability of resources,
Commanders may establish and maintain a system
for the registration of privately owned arms on their installations. Commanders
will—

(1) Secure arms and ammunition in
the installation armory or unit arms rooms in approved locked containers separate from the military
AA&E. Storage requirements in this regulation apply. Installation
commanders may authorize storage of these items
in other locations on military installations, provided they are properly
secured.

(2) Account for and inventory arms
and ammunition.

(a) A DA Form 3749
(Weapons Receipt) will be issued for each privately-owned weapon secured in the
arms rooms.

(b) privately-owned
weapons will be inventoried in conjunction with, and at the frequency of the
inventory of Government weapons.

(c) Commanders will
establish limits on the quantity and type of privately owned ammunition stored
in the arms room, based upon availability of
space and safety considerations.

(3) Post applicable local
regulations and State and local law information on ownership, registration, and
possession of weapons and ammunition on unit
bulletin boards.

(4) Conduct inspections per AR
190–13, paragraph 2–8, and this regulation to ensure proper storage and
control.

(5) Process unauthorized AA&E
per AR 190–22, paragraph 3–4.

(6) Prohibit retention and
storage of incendiary devices and explosives.

(7) Brief all newly assigned
persons on this regulation and subordinate command guidance. All personnel will
be made aware of changes.

b. Personnel
keeping or storing privately owned arms and ammunition (including authorized
war trophies) on

military installation will—

(1) Comply with local regulations
and local and State laws on ownership, possession, registration, off–post
transport, and use.

(2) Store both arms and ammunition
in the unit arms room or other locations authorized by the installation commander.

(3) Follow local security and
safety regulations. Safeguard the unit issued DA Form 3749 for turn–in to the
unit armorer when the weapon is
withdrawn from the arms room.

(4) Withdraw privately-owned
weapons and ammunition from the unit arms rooms only upon approval of the unit commander or the commander’s
authorized representative.

(5) Ship or store arms and
ammunition as personal property, if authorized, per AR 55–355, paragraph 50–12.
When loss occurs, notify the local
provost marshal or security officer immediately.

(6) Comply with the National
Firearms Act of 1968 when receiving or bringing arms into the United States. Automatic arms must be turned
over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), or brought under
Army control.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 18 at 2018 6:25 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:25:24 -0500

It will count against a Physical Security inspection as a minor or major. Anything other than AA&E requires a memorandum stating the CO authorizes it to be in the armsroom and they have to inventory POW's monthly.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 14 at 2018 11:07 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 23:07:07 -0400

1. If it is in the arms room, then it is in the custody of the CO. 2. He can set the times you can have access to it at his convenience. 3. The Arms Room main function is not to secure your POW. 4. What does your Post regs say about carrying on Post. 5. If you screw up, say stop at PX on way home, and get stopped outside the PX with your POW, you could get hammered. 6. Having been an Armorer, waiting around with my thumb up my 4th POC, for you to show up, would really tick me off badly.