BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Col. Michael Miller, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, issued a memorandum Nov. 26 outlining updates to the Barksdale Air Force Base policy on personal firearms.
According to the memorandum, those with a Department of Defense or Command Access Card and a valid Louisiana concealed handgun license or reciprocal state’s concealed carry license can now transport and provisionally store personal firearms in privately owned vehicles.
The firearms must meet the definition of a handgun per Louisiana state law (La. R.S. § 40:1379.3).
That law defines a handgun as “a type of firearm commonly referred to as a pistol or revolver originally designed to be fired by the use of a single hand and which is designed to fire or is capable of firing fixed cartridge ammunition. The term ‘handgun’ shall not include shotguns or rifles that have been altered by having their stocks or barrels cut or shortened.”
In the memorandum, Miller outlined several provisions associated with the updated policy.
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The new policy does not allow the concealed carry of firearms on Barksdale AFB.
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The policy affects DoD and CAC card holders who are fall into one of the following categories: active duty, guard, reserve, dependents, retired military personnel and DoD civilians. Private contractors, visitors or those with special one-time passes will not be allowed to store handguns in their personally owned vehicles within the legal boundary of Barksdale AFB.
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Individuals must maintain their concealed carry license on their person at all times when within the legal boundary of Barksdale AFB and be prepared to surrender it when requested by a member of 2nd Security Forces Squadron, Office of Special Investigations or other law enforcement official.
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Individuals must secure handguns in appropriate weapons case or vehicle compartment. The handguns may be loaded or unloaded.
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If stopped by Security Forces, OSI or other law enforcement officials, individuals will immediately reveal the presence, status, and location of the handgun and ammunition within their vehicle.
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Unless intending to immediately take the firearm from the vehicle to a base residence or authorized installation recreation area, individuals may not remove handguns from their personally owned vehicles within the legal boundary of BAFB unless there is an imminent threat of serious bodily harm or death to themselves or others in their immediately vicinity.
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At no time will anyone be permitted to self-dispatch or respond to any incident outside his or her immediate vicinity.
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No weapons may be stored in an unattended vehicle on Barksdale AFB for more than 24 hours.
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Individuals residing in family or privatized housing must register their personal firearms using AF Form 1315 when those firearms are stored anywhere on the installation, including the armory.
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The existing prohibition on individuals storing handguns in dormitories or temporary living facilities remains in place. Those individuals must store personal firearms in the 2nd Security Forces Squadron Armory.
For further information, or for any questions regarding this policy, please contact the 2nd Security Forces Squadron at 318-456-5351.