FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Personal firearms are permitted on Fort Leonard Wood, but there are many important rules to follow, according to Rick Vise, Installation Physical Security officer with the Directorate of Emergency Services.
Before bringing a firearm onto the installation, Vise said it is important to take the appropriate steps.
“The very first thing you will want to do before bringing a firearm onto Fort Leonard Wood is to register your weapon,” Vise said. “You can do that by stopping into the Visitor Center located at the north gate on Missouri Avenue or by filling out a form on the DES webpage located at https://home.army.mil/wood/Garrison/DES/weapons-registration.”
Members of the military will have to get the form signed by their commander before the form can be submitted, he said.
Once the form is received, personnel at the Visitor Center will work the request, which includes a background screening, Vise said.
“We will also look to see if the weapon is stolen or has been used in a crime,” Vise said. “Once we have done all that and we have put the information into the system, the Visitor Center will notify the individual that their weapons are registered and the form is ready to be picked up.”
According to Vise, individuals must keep the form with them at all times while on the installation with the registered firearm, and that leads to the next step of the process.
“If you are bringing that weapon onto the installation, then you must declare it when you enter the installation,” he said. “Then you must present the weapons registration form so we can verify that the weapon you are bringing is in fact registered.”
This includes bringing a firearm onto Fort Leonard Wood to hunt, and to use the Outdoor Adventure Center or the privately owned weapon range located at Range 1 off FLW 30. Anyone wanting to use the privately owned weapon range to fire their personal firearms should contact Range Control’s Fire Desk at 573.596.2525, he said.
Another important detail to consider is safe transportation of the firearm onto Fort Leonard Wood.
“When you are transporting a weapon, the weapon and ammunition must be separated from each other,” he said. “You cannot have the weapon readily available to you.”
Vise said the weapon and ammunition should be stored in a trunk.
“If you do not have a trunk, the weapon and ammunition must be stored in separate containers so you do not have easy access to them,” Vise said. “Ideally, the weapon would be in a case and the ammunition could be stored in a glove box.”
Firearms can also be purchased at the Outdoor Adventure Center or the Post Exchange, and Vise said there are processes in place for firearm purchases on post.
“If you purchase a weapon from the Outdoor Adventure Center or the Post Exchange, you will have 24 hours to register the newly acquired firearm,” Vise said. “If you purchase a firearm on post, you will still have to go through all the checks that federal law requires.”
One additional area Vise pointed out is that conceal and carry of a firearm is not permitted on federal sites, to include Fort Leonard Wood.
“You cannot conceal and carry on Fort Leonard Wood even though it is authorized in your state,” Vise said. “People come to Fort Leonard Wood from states where it is authorized, and they may forget that the firearm is on them.”
Vise said there is one main point for everyone to remember when it comes to personal firearms on the installation.
“I think it is key to declare all firearms when entering post because many individuals will be sent for an inspection and once we find the firearm, it is too late,” he said.
For more information, contact the Main Gate Visitor's Center at 573.596.0590 or email usarmy.leonardwood.id-training.mbx.usag-flw-des-visctr@army.mil.
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