FORT BENNING, Ga., (Aug.12, 2015) --In order to comply with installation regulations, all privately owned weapons at Fort Benning must be registered, according to Maj. Joseph LaBranche, Department of Emergency Services police operations officer.
"We have a community that is very pro-gun, pro-weapon, so they take it very seriously on the installation, as well as in the Army, to have weapons properly registered on the installation," LaBranche said.
According to Maneuver Center of Excellence Regulation 190-11, residents of Fort Benning must register each firearm within 10 days of bringing the weapon onto the installation.
Soldiers who are PCSing to Fort Benning should secure their firearms in their on-post quarters until registration is complete, and at no time remove the weapon from their quarters until registration is complete.
"If an individual is found (with a weapon) on the installation without a weapon registered, Soldiers can be titled under Uniform Code of Military Justice for failing to register a weapon and Family members can be titled administratively for failing to obey the provisions of the regulations," LaBranche said.
Soldiers and Family members are required to have the Soldier's commander authorize weapons registration.
"A commander has the authority to deny or revoke a Soldier's ability to register a firearm if he doesn't meet the requirements of 190-11," LaBranche said. "(For example), if the individual is a threat to himself, herself or others, is being treated for mental health issues, or for other compelling reasons based on Soldier performance."
The regulation doesn't only apply to Fort Benning Soldiers and their Families, Labranche said.
"Civilians who are coming onto the installation for an authorized shooting, hunting or sporting event are also required to register their weapon prior to introducing the weapon on to the installation," he said.
"Each individual, once they have registered the weapon, are required to keep the registration document with the weapon as it comes on to the installation so we can validate the proper registration."
LaBranche said individuals who bring a weapon on post without registering it will be processed by the military police for not properly registering the weapon and will be escorted off of the installation.
Soldiers residing in barracks, LaBrance said, may register weapons on post, but must store them in their unit's arms room with the permission of their commander.
"They cannot (store) weapons in barracks or in their vehicles," he said.
If unregistered weapons are used negligently on the installation, whether intentional or accidental, the owner may be criminally charged.
"It's not so much that not registering (weapons) will decrease safety hazards, but having it registered, you'll be in compliance with Army regulations, which will prevent any criminal action taken against you, or administrative action taken against you," LaBranche said.
Open carry and conceal carry are prohibited at Fort Benning, LaBrance said.
"Individuals may not openly carry on the installation, nor is conceal carry allowed, regardless of if you have a permit from another state or jurisdiction," he said. "The weapon is required to stay at their house, unless they are transporting it to or from an authorized shooting, hunting or sporting event."
In addition, all weapons must be properly transported on post.
According to the regulation, all firearms should be transported in a gun case, secured and not in plain view from outside of the vehicle. The ammunition should be stored separately.
The following weapons are prohibited on the installation: a sawed-off shotgun, a sawed-off rifle, a firearm with an altered or removed serial number, a machine gun not registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Explosives , a rocket launcher, a bazooka, a recoilless rifle, a mortar, a hand grenade or similar type devices intended to injure or kill a person, according to the regulation.
Labranche said registration is completed at the Military Police Station, Building 215, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Individuals registering weapons should bring a valid form of identification, and
Soldiers must bring their registration forms with their commander's signature. Short-term guests who reside in Directorate of Family, Morale and Recreation lodging facilities may register firearms prior to their visit, by faxing a request to the administrative records section at 706-545-7455 up to 96 hours before expected arrival.
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