Courtesy Photo | Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Commander Col. Mike Henderson recently signed a...... read more read more
JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - Commander Col. Mike Henderson recently signed a memorandum clarifying policy for the possession and storage of privately-owned weapons on the installation.
Per the policy, all personnel residing on all three portions of the joint base must register their firearms and weapons with the JBM-HH Military Police Station (Bldg. 415) at Fort Myer. Personnel registering weapons are prohibited from bringing the weapons to the stations but must fill out a form at the station. Personnel living in the barracks must provide a copy of the unit arms room storage receipt in order to confirm that the weapon is properly stored.
Tracie Miller, physical security specialist at JBM-HH’s Directorate of Emergency Services, said the policy was updated in order to ensure the safety and security of joint base service members, employees, residents and visitors.
“We’re a smaller installation – we don’t have hunting facilities, we don’t have ranges – so it’s extremely important to differentiate what’s allowable here versus someplace like Fort Belvoir,” Miller said.
The memo, which is formally titled “Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Policy Memorandum ES-3, Registration and Control of Privately Owned Weapons,” does not apply solely to firearms; the policy also outlines other weapons that must be registered and stored – certain knives, swords, air and gas pellet guns and crossbows. For instance, knives with blades longer than three inches must be registered and stored.
“There’s always been a privately-owned weapons registration policy, but of course as the Army has evolved so have their policies, their rules, so it’s something that should constantly be updated,” Miller said.
Tighter regulations on a broader range of weapons will keep the installation safer, she said.
“A lot of people don’t realize what type of non-firearm weapons are not allowed on a military installation, so this gives a lot more clarification,” she said.
According to the policy, “personnel and family members are prohibited from carrying any privately-owned firearms or weapons on JBM-HH except when engaged in, or en route to or from, authorized on-post practice areas or for off-post activities which are not in violation of federal, state or local law.”
Officers and enlisted personnel living in family housing, bachelor enlisted quarters or bachelor officer quarters are allowed to store weapons in their homes, but restrictions apply. Firearms and projectile weapons must be in locked containers or have a trigger-locking or action-blocking device, and ammunition must be stored separately from the weapon. Officers and non-commissioned officers in BOQ and BEQ facilities must meet the same requirements while also ensuring that weapons are secured in their own locked containers with a key other than that which opens the door to their living quarters.
Enlisted personnel living in barracks will store their firearms and weapons in in the organizational arms room.
Of note, general officers with a government-issued weapon are not required to register those weapons on the joint base, regardless if the weapon is stored at a residence, arms locker or elsewhere, according to Miller.
Miller said any other questions about registering weapons on the joint base – including provisions regarding storing government-issued weapons in residences – can be directed to the JBM-HH police desk at DES during business hours at 703-696-8887, or after hours at 703_588-2800.
Additionally, the revised policy now provides a privately-owned weapon registration form that requires a commander’s signature, ensuring unit compliance with Army and installation policy, according to Miller. The new form also streamlines records of registered weapons across all units on the joint base, providing “hard copy documentation” and “evidentiary value” in the event of criminal activity as well.
“Previously there wasn’t documentation immediately available to law enforcement to satisfy these issues, nor was there documentation which met each of the unit commanders’ needs,” said Miller in an email explanation.
The revisions in the JBM-HH policy also stem from a need to ensure joint base policy is in compliance with Washington, D.C., law regarding firearms registrations. Those changes directly impact the Fort McNair portion of the joint base.
To read the policy in full, visit www.army.mil/jbmhh and click on “JBM-HH Policy Memorandums.”
In related news, the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) Henderson Hall now sells weapons and ammunition on the third floor of the store on the joint base, but sales are limited based on individual consumer residence and various other considerations. Details of that policy can be obtained online at www.mccshh.com/MCX.html.
| Date Taken: | 10.09.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.09.2014 11:12 |
| Story ID: | 144733 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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