JOINT BASELANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Weapons are a tool of the trade in the U.S. military, yet possession of weapons on installations is more restricted. Members of the Joint Base Langley-Eustis community should be aware of the policies that govern all weapons brought onto the installation.
According to the Integrated Defense Plan, weapons must be announced at the gate and registered with the base armory within 24 hours of being brought onto an installation. Before that point, weapons must be properly secured and stored, and firearms unloaded. Weapons are prohibited from being stored in vehicles or on-base dormitories, with the exception that weapons other than guns and explosives may be stored in properly designated rooms in the dormitory buildings.
"Weapons include firearms, knives with blades longer than 5 1/2 inches, self-defense agents - such as pepper spray and stun guns - martial arts weapons and various devices capable of firing projectiles - such as paintball guns, bows and arrows, BB guns, blow guns, slingshots, blank cartridge pistols, straight razors, etc.
Since weapons may not be left unattended in a vehicle for any period of time, a person bringing a weapon onto the installation, or who has just purchased one from the Exchange, must proceed directly to a destination where the weapon may be stored. Weapons and ammunition must be separated, secure and out of reach of the vehicle's occupants. Concealed carry is prohibited on base, however, a weapon stored in a trunk or secure container inside a vehicle is not considered concealed.
There are some weapons, however, that are illegal on base and cannot be brought onto the installation under any circumstances. These include switchblade and butterfly knives, brass knuckles, tear gas and dispensers, sawed-off shotguns, automatic weapons, silencers, knives or shooting weapons hidden inside other objects and weapons improvised from other devices.
The following instances provide examples of weapon protocol on base:
Example 1: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Snuffy has a Virginia concealed carry permit. He may wear a concealed firearm off base, but his permit does not allow him to wear a concealed firearm on base. If he brings his gun on base, he must check it in at the armory.
Example 2: Mr. Doe, a retiree, is going to the firing range at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and stops by the gas station on base with his gun and ammunition in his vehicle. He may do so, but may not walk away from his vehicle or go inside the Shoppette. His gun must be secured, separate from the ammunition, and out of reach of vehicle occupants (e.g., in the trunk).
Example 3: Airman 1st Class Smith lives in the dorms and loves paintball and survival games. She has two knives she uses when out in the woods: a small pocketknife and a bowie knife with a 6-inch blade. She may store her pocketknife in her dorm, but must store her paintball gun and bowie knife at the armory or off base. If a secure storage area has been designated in the dorms, she may store her paintball gun and bowie knife there.
Example 4: Mrs. Jones is a civilian employee who works on base. She has brass knuckles that were a gift from coworkers at a former job, inscribed with, 'Mrs. Jones: A knockout employee,' which she uses as a paperweight. She skims over this article, so she takes the brass knuckles to the armory. She will not be able to register them there, as they are illegal and are not allowed on the installation at all.
This information pertains to personally owned weapons and vehicles, and does not apply to the carry and use of weapons as part of official duties. Nor does it constitute legal advice. For further information, consult the 633 ABW legal office.