Firearm rules keep base safe Published Oct. 29, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Clayton Lenhardt 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE Ill. -- Anyone who has relocated to a new assignment knows it can be challenging. For firearm owners, the change of assignment can have additional challenges due to the varying laws from state to state. Each state and DoD installation has firearms or privately owned firearms, or POF, laws that gun owners must know while traveling, or living, in their jurisdiction. Illinois and Scott Air Force Base are no different. Both have specific laws that must be complied with while possessing, transporting, or transferring firearms. "You may not bring firearms onto base unless it is destined for your home on base or the Security Forces armory," said Lt. Col. Bryan Eckart, 375th Security Forces Squadron Commander. "If your circumstances meet one of these exceptions, the weapon must be unloaded, locked, and the ammunition kept separately." According to Illinois State law, any person who possesses a firearm or ammunition must also have a valid Illinois Firearm Owner Identification card in their possession. New Illinois residents have 60 calendar days to obtain a FOID card which can be applied for on the Illinois State Police website at www.isp.state.il.us. The ISP website states, "the Firearms Service Bureau is inundated with FOID requests, so new applicants or renewing applicants should allow sufficient time to receive their FOID card." Illinois residents need to be aware of the three different statutory codes that regulate the possession, transfer, and the transportation of firearms in Illinois: Illinois Criminal Statues, the Wild Life Code, and the Firearm Owner's Identification Act. Each code has different requirements, and could be more or less restrictive than the others. Despite the three different laws, firearms must only be transported unloaded, enclosed in a case, and by a person who has a valid FOID card. While on Scott all persons must also comply with Scott's POF guidelines. IAW SAFB Instruction 31-1, Scott Air Force Base Integrated Defense Plan, a POF is defined as: "Instruments capable of propelling a projectile by compressed air, gas, springs, or other mechanical or physical means." Examples are, but not limited to handguns, rifles, BB guns, airsoft guns, paintball guns, underwater spears, slingshots, bow and arrows, and spears. "Storage of POFs in dormitories or in the Temporary Lodging Facilities is prohibited," said Tech. Sgt. Aron Luna, 37th SFS. "Owners who reside in dormitories or TLFs must store their weapons and ammunition in the 375th Security Forces Squadron Armory. Residents who reside in Patriot's Landing, Shiloh East/West, and the Georgian and Colonial housing areas must register their handguns, rifles, and shotguns with the 375th SFS Armory in Bldg. 755." Residents who live in Lincoln's Landing are not required to register their firearms with the armory. Lincoln's Landing is not located on SAFB property. Owners who plan on storing their firearms in the SFS armory for more than 30 days must show proof of their valid Illinois FOID card. Firearm owners just arriving to Scott have 30 days to acquire their FOID card, or be able to show proof the application has been mailed. Residents will complete an AF Form 1314, Firearms Registration, to register their privately owned firearms. Up to five weapons can be used per AF Form 1314. More than five will require an additional AF Form 1314. The owner's unit commander is required to sign the AF Form 1314. Unit commanders ensure each person registering a firearm for storage on the installation signs a DD Form 2760, Qualification to Possess Firearms or ammunition, acknowledging they do not have a qualifying conviction under the Lautenberg Amendment to the 1968 Gun Control Act. "Military members who do not follow these rules can be punished under Article 92 of the UCMJ," said Luna. "Civilians could be charged with a felony depending on the violation." Possessing or carrying a firearm on Scott AFB is unauthorized unless members bought the firearm and are transporting it off-base, to family housing, or to the armory in Bldg. 755; live on base, and are transporting the firearm to or from family housing; are transporting your firearm to or from the armory. In any circumstance, all state and SAFB laws apply while transporting firearms on SAFB. Firearms must be unloaded, locked in a case in the trunk of the vehicle, or far rear of SUVs, and the ammunition kept separated from the firearm. Pickup truck drivers will keep the firearm behind or under the seat until the arrival at the authorized storage facility. Concealed weapons are not permitted on SAFB except in possession of the bearer's lawful duty (i.e., OSI agents, civilian law enforcement officials, or 375th SFS members working undercover and approved by the Defense Force Commander). Residents are reminded to store their firearms in a safe manner when children live in the quarters. Locked safes are the ideal place to store firearms. However, base residents can request to store their firearms in the 375th SFS Armory depending on available storage space. The phone number to the Armory is 256-2670. Information courtesy of the 375th Security Forces Squadron Scott firearm guidelines Below are some common questions and answers regarding SAFB firearm guidelines: Q: If I have an Illinois concealed carry permit, what am I supposed to do when I reach the gate? Can I just lock my firearm in my console and it be ok? A: A concealed carry permit does not give anyone authorization to bring a firearm onto Scott. Individuals may not bring it on base unless it is destined for their home on base or the security forces armory. The weapon must be unloaded, locked and ammunition kept separately. It is illegal to lock a loaded or unloaded firearm in your vehicle for the purpose of storage while at work. Q: If I'm not an IL concealed carry permit holder, but am transporting a firearm IAW state law (in a container, unloaded, with no ammo) am I ok having it in my car? A: No. The exception is if a member is transporting the weapon to their home on base or the base armory. Q: How can I avoid "possession" if I am a gun owner who lives in base housing with my family? A: For members who live on Scott they are required to register their weapon with the 375th Security Forces Squadron. When you transport a weapon on and off-base it must be unloaded and locked and ammunition must be kept separate. The gun must be transported directly to a home or directly off-base. Storage of firearms within the confines of the home and transportation directly off the installation or directly to the home is authorized on Scott AFB and is not considered possession. Even as a base resident, with a registered firearm and a concealed carry permit, it is illegal to carry and/or possess the weapon on a federal installation. Q: What rules apply in the off-base-but-still-military privatized housing (Patriot's and Lincoln's)? A: Patriot's Landing is part of Scott AFB and is considered part of the federal installation; it is not off-base. All rules regarding possession and transport that are stated at the gates apply unless a weapon is being transported directly to a home or the Security Forces armory, is unloaded and locked and kept separate from ammunition. Lincoln's Landing is privatized housing contracted by the military but is located on St. Clair County land and is not part of a federal installation. State laws apply to this area. Q: How can I buy a firearm at the Exchange and legally step outside of the store with it if possession is prohibited? A: Special provisions have been created that require the purchaser of a firearm to sign a document stating they will transport the firearm directly off-base. The firearm and purchaser are escorted by an Exchange employee to their vehicle where the firearm is placed in the vehicle and the purchaser is required to drive off of the installation immediately upon leaving the Exchange. Q: What are the penalties for non-compliance? A: Non-compliance is a violation of United States Code and will result in charges being forwarded to the local Magistrate for prosecution. Q: Is there a difference between the Federal Jurisdiction side of the base and the State side of the base? A: There are several differences between the Exclusive Jurisdiction and the Proprietary Jurisdiction side of base. On the Exclusive side (everything east of Scott Drive) Security Forces have sole authority to enforce the laws and regulations, both state and federal. On the Proprietary side (all land east of Scott Drive) that responsibility is shared with St. Clair County for state laws. Security Forces retain the legal authority to enforce all Federal Laws everywhere on base regardless of whether the violator is military or civilian. To be clear, carrying a firearm anywhere on Scott AFB or possessing a firearm except under one of the three exceptions previously stated is illegal and will result in charges. Q: Scott allows hunting on the property. How can hunters hunt without possessing a firearm? A: Scott allows a limited bow hunting season on base. There is no rifle/gun hunting season on Scott. All Scott AFB members, dependents, and employees who own or plan on owning a firearm, whether they live on base or off-base, should go to the Illinois State Police website at www.isp.state.il.us/ to read up on the state's specific requirements. Owners who reside on base should also read SAFB's requirements outlined in SAFB 31-1, SAFBIDP, Annex X. For any more information contact the 375th SFS Base Defense Operations Center at 256-2223, or 375th SFS Armory at 256-2670.