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In the near future I will have to visit some Air Force bases on a regular basis for work. What are the rules of having a firearm on that property? I would assume that I can not carry it, but can I leave it locked in my truck anywhere without breaking any laws? If I can't bring it on base at all I do have a backup plan on a place that I can leave my gun when visiting the one in Fort Worth, but if I have to go out to West Texas or Shreveport I don't know what I will do.

Your best bet is to call the the AFB you will be visiting, and just ask about it. I doubt it is legal to have it in your car in the parking lot, as they are usually fenced and federal land. You may be able to leave it with the guards when you enter the AFB, but that will be dependent on there procedures.

When I was stationed at the Air Force Academy we were allowed to have them in our houses living in on base housing, but that was those of us stationed there. That base used to allow people if it was in your car, but best bet was via Federal Transportation laws. Locked in the trunk, etc. The only reason I think it was an exception was because of its tourist status. Definitely call the base. The base operator is a good start and ask them for the Security Police Squadron. If they want a specific number ask for the desk sergeant. That is typically the dispatcher for the on duty SPs on the base. They can answer your question or transfer you directly to who you need to talk to that would know.

You may not bring any firearm onto a federal installation unless you are a LEO. You may not even have it in your car. There are no exceptions to this. Sorry for the bad news!

It varies by base. I've called Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX and their rules were you have to let the front gate know and then you go directly to the Armory and check it in. They keep it until you are leaving the base.

NAS Fort Worth JRB in Fort Worth has a strict no guns policy. Period.

As stated earlier, call the base ahead of time.

Thanks for the info. The Fort Worth base won't be a problem as I have a secure place that is not too far from there that I can leave my gun. It's the one's out of town that I have the biggest concern with.

I guess I could also go unarmed on a day I have to go out there. :

williamkevin wrote:You may not bring any firearm onto a federal installation unless you are a LEO. You may not even have it in your car. There are no exceptions to this. Sorry for the bad news!

My experience is very different.

When stationed in WA I had my firearms secured at the back gate. We lived offbase so our firearms were not registered at the Arms storage, I just had them on me coming from the range.

As already said, every base is different. Call ahead if you can asking what the procedure is. If you can't call, declare at the gate and you'll be instructed.

I dont know of any Air Force installation that allows you to bring a weapon on base, unless you are stationed there, or using it for some kind of base competition ETC. They will either tell you that you can fill out an AF form 1314 and leave it in the security forces armory or tell you to not bring it at all. Also, if you have to get vouched on base by someone else the chances of being able to store it in the armory are unlikely.

It's a crap shoot.

The rules for firearms are dictated by the Base Commander.

Anecdotally, I was touring the country in an RV for a couple of years, and we stopped at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma to visit family for Thanksgiving. I had the firearm in the car when my wife drove to the gate, and they were doing a "random" vehicle search that evening. I told the guy in charge that I had a loaded .45 in the car, as we were traveling, and he just had a patrol lead me to the armory. He later thanked me for letting him know ahead of time about the weapon. I replied, "It's not like you wouldn't have found it. Why not let you know about it?"

The next day I contacted the wing commander's office to find out if I was permitted to keep my firearm in my RV while visiting. When they told me that it was NOT permitted, I packed up, retrieved my firearm from the armory and stayed at a commercial RV park.

The NG facility in the Boise, Idaho area was exactly the opposite (when I visited there about 4 years ago), and just asked that I didn't carry on-post when not in the vehicle.

AFJailor wrote:I dont know of any Air Force installation that allows you to bring a weapon on base, unless you are stationed there, or using it for some kind of base competition ETC. They will either tell you that you can fill out an AF form 1314 and leave it in the security forces armory or tell you to not bring it at all. Also, if you have to get vouched on base by someone else the chances of being able to store it in the armory are unlikely.

You are correct. This is the official Air Force stance on weapons being brought on to any Air Force installation for the purpose of work. If you are visiting family that stays in base housing, you will be able to take it there and the military member can store it at their home until you are ready to leave the installation but you can't run around base with it at all. You would be allowed to go straight to the military members residence and from that residence straight to the gate when you are leaving, no exceptions. If you call and get information to the contrary, you are getting bad information. They may let you take it to the Armory and fill out the 1314 but that's a bigger pain in the neck than it sounds. I would definitely call first to get the information first hand but don't be surprised that you are emphatically told "no guns". After 20 years doing the job at many different bases, this policy has never changed.

Again, call to get the information first hand.

I went to Dyess AFB last month with my carry pistol in my IWB holster. I told the gate guard about it and he directed me to the Base Armory. I signed it in and visited the base. When I was ready to leave, I got it back from the Armory and went straight out the main gate.

wow
this weekend we carried onto barksdale in our rv. if you carry it in your rv and declare it at the gate, you will be told to separate the ammo from the weapon and store them apart while aboard the facility and at no times are you allowed to display it. An rv is considered your residence and that's why they let you aboard with firearms.
simple and easy solution.
I always call ahead if i will be visiting a base and its a been a few weeks. In this case its best to ask, before your begging for forgiveness in front of a federal magistrate