I'll be traveling to California this summer to visit my Son who lives on a military base.

I'd like to take along a handgun but know I'll have to break it down and lock it up when I reach California.

I don't have any options at this point for storing the gun before I enter the base. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience in firearm storage facilities for travelers?

Thanks.

Joe

Talk to your son. First sergeants are busy guys, but perhaps your son's can help. Hopefully someone has more to offer than me and posts soon. Good luck, and welcome to the forum.

Joe, Here is what the CA DOJ says on the matter:

http://ag.ca.gov/firearms/travel.php

Essentially, if you unload it, and place in a locked container before you cross the border, you're OK. The website seems to say just locking it in the trunk is OK.

I’m a Navy guy and know what the Navy bases say. Most likely close to the same. However, so I don't tell you wrong have you and your son locked up have him seek out the base instruction, or possible Marine Corp Order (MCO). He should start with his Chain of Command or the Base Police on the questions and research.

I've been retired for 7 years now (USAF), so things might have changed since I was in. Each branch of the service has their own rules (each base may have special rules as well). Back in the "old days" if you lived in the barracks (dorms) you couldn't keep firearms there(very likely that rule is still in force), so we either kept them at a friends house off base, or we could store them in the base armory on a hand receipt. You could store firearms in base housing (family housing), but there may be resrictions to that as well (i.e. locked up, etc.).

JBONES is right on the money....have your son check with his base Law Enforcement branch for guidance on storage when you get to the base.

Thanks for the advice - I'll have him check for me.

When we went to see him graduate from basic training in Great Lakes, IL they practically strip searched all of the parents coming to the ceremony! We all had personal invitations / passes to the base, but all had to line up their cars and were sniffed by dogs, etc. before we could park and attend the ceremony.

I thought the parents of service members were the good guys!

When going to CA,don't forget to LEAVE your hi-cap mags out of state.

You would do well when in the PRC to lock your gun is a secure lock box in the trunk and put the ammo in some other part of the vehicle so the two cannot be put together quickly. That way you avoid even the APPEARANCE of any kind of impropriety. As a matter of fact, if it were me I'd just leave the ammo home or dump it before entering the state. This state leans so far to the left that its in danger of breaking loose and slipping beneath the waves of the Pacific Oceon!