Change allows concealed carry at SJAFB
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on December 31, 2016 2:28 PM
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The armory inside the 4th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base houses all privately-owned weapons. A recent change to protocol will allow concealed carry on base as long as the weapons are secured inside vehicles.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base has loosened restrictions on carrying concealed weapons on base, according to a post on the base.
The change is part of the updated base Integrated Defense Plan, and allows Department of Defense employees with N.C. concealed carry permits to store privately owned weapons in their vehicles during the duty day. They must be assigned to SJAFB.
The provision also applies to military Dependents 21 years of age and older, and accepts concealed carry permits from states with reciprocity to N.C.
Members who meet those requirements must then provide a memorandum to their commander stating that they have read and understand the rules and regulations for transporting and storing privately owned weapons. Dependents follow the same procedure with their sponsor's commander. Unless the memorandum has been signed by their commander, an airman cannot carry or store their weapon in their vehicle.
Weapons must be secured inside the vehicle at all times, and cannot leave the car even while the owner is disarming. The owner must secure the firearm in a locked container, such as a glove box or locked weapons case, which hides it from outside view.
Anyone who wishes to store their weapon in a vehicle is also required to register their firearm with the SJAFB Security Forces Armory.
Airmen and retirees took to social media after the announcements to voice mixed opinions. Some thought the changes were a step in the right direction, praising the base for allowing airmen to have their weapons while going to and from work. Others criticized it as a "band-aid" solution, and said that airmen should be able to carry weapons at all times while on base.
The changes notably exclude military retirees from being able to bring their firearms to the base, even for those who work on the base.