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Base personnel are reminded of firearm policy

By Airman 1st Class Dillon White, 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office / Published January 24, 2008

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MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Airmen are required to register their personally owned firearms within 10 days of in-processing at their new unit or whenever a firearm is purchased. 

People must also acquaint themselves with wing policy on transportation and storage of firearms to avoid confiscation, disciplinary action or both. 

Firearms must be unloaded at all times during storage and transportation to and from authorized shooting activities, as well as set to "safe" (with an open breech if so equipped). 

During transportation, people are required to place unloaded weapons in the trunk of their car or the furthest back position possible. 

"If a weapon is placed in the glove box, under the seat or covered in any way within the driver's reach, it is considered a concealed weapon," said Michael Ward, 341st Security Forces Squadron administration chief. "At no time should the weapon be loaded during transportation." 

People living in dormitories or staying in temporary lodging facilities are required to keep firearms and ammunition at the security forces armory located in building 500, Mr. Ward said. 

People living in military family housing are allowed to keep firearms in their home, but are required to keep them locked in an appropriate gun cabinet or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock available free-of-charge at the installation security office located in room 106, building 300. Weapons secured with a tamper-proof mechanical lock must be unloaded. 

According to 341st Space Wing Instruction 31-101, "Ammunition can be stored in a locked drawer of a gun cabinet/safe, separate from the weapon. Ammunition not stored in a locked drawer of a gun cabinet or gun safe will be placed in another location that a reasonably prudent person would believe to be secure from a child or other unauthorized users." 

According to Air Force Space Command Supplement 1 to the Air Force Instruction 31-101, weapons stored in a cabinet with glass windows must also have an additional safety measure in place such as mechanical safety locks or wire mesh to prevent the removal or use of a firearm if the window is broken. 

"Privately owned weapons were registered through commanders support staff before January 2008 and units are still storing that information even though they no longer have CSS's," Mr. Ward said. 

For further information, go to the base-intranet 10-day share drive and reference POW Registration.
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