DES: Remember to declare firearms at post access points

By Brian HillDecember 2, 2020

Remember to declare firearms at post access points
The Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Emergency Service reminds everyone that all firearms must be unloaded and declared at all installation access control points. (Photo Credit: Photo by Michael Curtis) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — The Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Emergency Services reminds everyone entering Fort Leonard Wood that firearms must be unloaded and declared to access control point personnel.

“Although we have electronic signs at each (gate) reminding people … we have seen an uptick in the amount of folks we are finding violating these rules,” said DES Sgt. Maj. Cameron Regur.

As a reminder, all firearms:

— must be registered prior to bringing the weapon onto the installation. Newly arriving personnel have 24 hours to register weapons after signing for on-post housing or receiving their weapons from a household goods delivery.

— must have a valid weapons registration present when being transported on post.

— being transported through an access control point must be declared to the security guard. A gun case in plain sight on the back seat of a vehicle is not the same as declaring it to the guard.

— must be unloaded during transport, and the ammunition must be stored separately from the weapon while being transported.

— transported in a vehicle must be secured in the trunk. For vehicles without a trunk they need to be encased in a hard or soft container and separated in the vehicle in such a manner that they are not readily available or accessible to the driver or passengers. Firearms must not be encased and transported in the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Regur said Fort Leonard Wood does not recognize any state or federal concealed carry permit.

“No concealed weapons are allowed on Fort Leonard Wood at any time,” he said.

Civilian violators — to include contractors, military family members and retirees — can expect a mandatory appearance in Federal Magistrate Court, most often in Springfield, Missouri, Regur said.

“Service members subject to the Uniformed Code of Military Justice are charged with failing to obey a lawful order or regulation and referred to their chain of command for adjudication,” he added.

Regur said the upcoming holiday season is an especially important time to remind visitors to the installation about the weapons policies.

“Parents coming to pick up trainees for Holiday Block Leave need to know it’s a good idea to leave their firearms locked up safely at home before travelling to Fort Leonard Wood,” he said.