Personally Owned Firearms requirements

  • Published
  • By Stanley Moody
  • 341st Security Forces Group
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a large increase in the purchase of firearms around the country. Base residents may have purchased additional firearms and ammunition during this time.

As such, the 341st Security Forces Group would like to provide a brief reminder regarding requirements for safety and legally owning, storing, and transporting personally owned firearms on base. Please adhere to the following POF requirements:

• Newly assigned personnel have 10 duty days upon in-processing to report to their command support staff and register all POFs and unusually dangerous weapons, to include air soft, BB, paintball guns and similar devices. Personnel will complete an Air Force Form IMT 1314, Firearms Registration, and give a copy to the 341st SFG Reports and Analysis section located in Building 295 for record keeping. Personnel who purchase any additional firearms or sell a registered firearm will re-accomplish firearms registration for all changes in the storage status. Pen and ink changes to the AF IMT 1314 are not authorized.

• Once registered, personnel need to abide by the following procedures for safe storage of POFs:

○ POFs will never be stored in dormitories, billeting or temporary housing. The authorized storage location for personnel residing in the dormitories, billeting or temporary housing is the 341st SFG Armory located in Building 500.

○ Military sponsors responsible for government housing units must ensure all POFs stored in the housing unit are secured in an appropriately constructed, locked container or they are equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device. Government housing residents also have the option of storing their weapons in the 341 SFG Armory.

○ Military sponsors will ensure POFs stored in locking gun cabinets constructed with glass windows will have an additional level of security in place, such as trigger locks, wire, mesh, etc., to prevent the removal or use of POFs if the glass is broken.

○ Keys and combinations for mechanical locks or other safety devices must be closely controlled to prevent access by children and other unauthorized individuals.

• There are also rules for transporting POFs. Transporting POFs on the installation is limited to active-duty, retired military, Department of Defense adult dependents and DOD civilians. Base visitors and contractors are not authorized to transport POFs on the installation. Authorized personnel may transport POFs in the following situations/configurations:

○ Transportation to and from authorized storage facilities (i.e. base housing and 341st SFG armory), to the combat arms range for on-installation activities (i.e. range days) and for off-installation activities (i.e. hunting, practice), purchase or sale, gift presentations at events, collector display events, gun shows, and Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act-credentialed personnel.

○ Personnel are not authorized to conceal-carry POFs on the installation except for LEOSA-credentialed personnel, authorized on-duty security forces and civilian law enforcement officials. LEOSA credentialed personnel are not authorized to carry concealed POFs in any facility on the installation, except for authorized storage facilities.

○ POFs must never be left unsecured or unattended in a motor vehicle on the installation. Exception: Unloaded POFs may be stored in a locked container and in a locked vehicle during short stops. Personnel will never store or leave POFs unattended in vehicles in dormitory parking lots. Personnel who do not live on the installation may temporarily store unloaded hunting rifles/shotguns in their vehicles up to 12 hours.

○ Firearms will be unloaded during transportation and placed in the trunk or the rear-most compartment of a vehicle and it is recommended they be equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device. If vehicle configuration does not allow for POFs to be out of reach, then POF must be in a locked container.

○ POFs will not be transported on motorcycles, bicycles or any non-four-wheeled vehicles.

• Ammunition storage also has set requirements:

○ Ammunition can be stored in a locked drawer, gun cabinet or gun safe.

○ If not stored in a locked drawer, gun cabinet or gun safe, ammunition will be stored in a location separate from the firearm and in a manner secured from a child or other unauthorized individuals.

• Anyone stopped by security forces, to include traffic stops or installation entry/exit vehicle checks, must immediately inform security forces of the location and amount of firearms or weapons being transported. Failure to comply may result in disciplinary action against the driver. Individuals do not have to inform the installation entry controllers they have a POF in their vehicle.

• Military personnel found to be non-compliant with these procedures are subject to judicial and non-judicial punishment within their unit.

○ Civilians found to be non-compliant with these procedures will be escorted off base and can be banned from the installation.

Additional firearms and ammunition guidance is located in the 341st Missile Wing’s Integrated Defense Plan 31-101.

Questions regarding firearms and ammunition procedures can be directed to the 341st Security Forces Squadron NCO-in charge of police services at 731-4958, or your unit’s first sergeant.