Air Force tells brass they can OK guns on base

[timjake]

Interesting development from Air Force leadership:


"A review of active shooter cases by the Air Force has confirmed what gun rights advocates have long been saying: Firearms in the hands of good guys are often the best bet for stopping massacres.

The military branch earlier this month sent out a letter to its base commanders around the nation reminding them that they can authorize subordinates to carry guns, even while off-duty and out of uniform. It also established three programs to help ensure that armed service members are in a position to protect their bases."

Rest of the article is here:
Air Force tells brass they can OK guns on base, citing 2015 shooting that left 5 dead | Fox News

I'll be very interested in how the commander at Offutt AFB decides to proceed.

 

[jimbo728]

The decision is a wise one.
Jim

 

[Ogandydancer]

Good on the USAF, now if the other branches just follow their lead.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Interesting concept there. Military personnel allowed to have weapons to defend themselves and their installations.

Wish I had thought of this.

 

[DWalt]

After 9/11 there were some of us who wondered why at least noncoms (or certain designated noncoms) throughout the base shouldn't have been armed, in addition to base security forces personnel. Inside the USAF Gunsmith Shop, there was always at least one employee (civilian or military) who was a designated M9 or M11 carrier during working hours, regardless of what the rest of the base did.

 

[venomballistics]

Just a couple inches north of ya on the right map.
I would truly hope so the base commander gives it the go ahead.
You do have, or did have, a fairly decent outdoor pistol range on base that fell into disuse, post fort Hood.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Very interesting development and my first thought was what the CIC would do about this. Most gun haters prefer all victims to be defenseless sheep because they hate all guns....not just BG guns. Innocent victims helps the narrative they foster which aims at confiscating ALL civilian guns. Some of these people have actually said this out loud in recent days.

Interesting comments about Offutt. At one time(10 to 20 yrs.ago) a CO at Offutt permitted a civilian USPSA club to hold monthly matches at the Offutt range. When a new CO took over he ended this quickly. I understand why...in bureaucratic think why take the career risk of having to explain an incident? It wouldn't surprise me if many AFB COs don't allow armed personnel other than APs.

 

[Shark Bait]

All branches of the military are well known for using restrictions to make up for inadequate training. It's cheaper and easier. Now commanders need to consider what may happen if they don't allow service members to be armed and an active shooter event does occur.

 

[snake803]

Very interesting development and my first thought was what the CIC would do about this. Most gun haters prefer all victims to be defenseless sheep because they hate all guns....not just BG guns. Innocent victims helps the narrative they foster which aims at confiscating ALL civilian guns. Some of these people have actually said this out loud in recent days.

Interesting comments about Offutt. At one time(10 to 20 yrs.ago) a CO at Offutt permitted a civilian USPSA club to hold monthly matches at the Offutt range. When a new CO took over he ended this quickly. I understand why...in bureaucratic think why take the career risk of having to explain an incident? It wouldn't surprise me if many AFB COs don't allow armed personnel other than APs.

Many years ago, I shot at silouhette matches on an Air Force base, somewhere west of Panama City ,Fl.. Can't remember ythe base name, but when you entered the gate, all you had to provide was a valid drivers license and tell them you were going to the match... They didn't even ask about your weapons...
JIM............

 

[Hillbilly77]

You can fly a $50 Million plane over enemy airspace and drop a $100k bomb on him, but at home you can't carry a $400 sidearm and fire a $0.13 projectile at an active shooter in self defense.

Am I missing something here, or what?


I hope all of our military leaders will make the right choices.

 

[bushmaster1313]

This is why we need "Duh" in the dictionary.

 

[PatriotX]

You can fly a $50 Million plane over enemy airspace and drop a $100k bomb on him, but at home you can't carry a $400 sidearm and fire a $0.13 projectile at an active shooter in self defense.

Am I missing something here, or what?


I hope all of our military leaders will make the right choices.

This is why, dating back to February 1992.

Edit: Here's a link to the full prior regulations.

http://www.apd.army.mil/jw2/xmldemo/r190_14/head.asp

 

[bushmaster1313]

From the directive:

b. Authorization to carry a firearm includes the authority to permit or require the firearm to be loaded. Unless otherwise specified by local policy, authority to carry a loaded firearm will be implied by issuance of ammunition with the firearm.

This is proof of why lawyers should never be in charge of soldiers.

 

[steelslaver]

I find this interesting, because around here we have lots of missile sites spread around the country side. I see Air Force security forces almost everyday. Some of the Humvees have machine guns mounted on top. I often see the personnel stopping at stores etc, What I never see is small arms. Possibly they have a disarm when when leaving the vehicle policy, but, never even empty holsters, I find it odd. Nobody around here would care if they wore them. Plenty of armed civilians and area is very gun friendly.

What is really funny is one time going down a gravel road to a fishing hole, I was flagged down by a driver of one of the Humvees. I am thinking what the hay and wondering how he is going to appreciate the fact that I am armed. He wanted to know if I knew where site number such and such was! Amazing. Ton of money ride, machine gun, 4 personnel and what no map or GPS? You got to be kidding. I don't have a clue which little fence off site is which. I have never drove the 100 yards or so up the drive to one to read all the little signs. Always been pretty sure they say stay out.

 

[bushmaster1313]

Interesting development from Air Force leadership:


Rest of the article is here:
Air Force tells brass they can OK guns on base, citing 2015 shooting that left 5 dead | Fox News

The article quotes someone from the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence using term "America's degenerate gun culture."

Do you suppose he was referring to us.

 

[timjake]

I checked with the 1st Sergeant of the org I work at concerning this and whether the Offutt AFB Commander had issued any new policy in response to this guidance.

"Nothing yet" was the response.

 

[robertrwalsh]

Remember a while back when they were getting real or suspected "terrorist activity" aimed against recruiting offices and the military gave the recruiters authority to carry military arms. I don't remember hearing anything bad happening. I wonder if the policy is still in effect.

 

[Retired W4]

One night, off duty in civvies, I was leaving LR AFB through the main gate. The AP's were doing random searches of personnel coming and going. The German Shepard alerted on my glove box which held my 2 1/2" 66-1 and extra ammo. Oh, the horror. An active duty CW4 with a POW on base. They had no choice but to take me to the cop shop. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, and a call to my CO, they decided to let the entire matter drift into obscurity. On the way to my vehicle, with revolver in hand, one of the AP's muttered to me "I wouldn't be driving around here at night without a weapon either." Common sense prevailed.

I could tell the story of how I got my call sign in Panama (Two Gun) but I won't.

 

[smithman 10]

The comment about inadequate training hits home with my USAF experience from circa 50 years ago.

Qualified with an M-16 in basic, then re-qualified each year. NEVER touched a handgun in my four years.

There were plenty of young men I worked with that I would have had grave concerns about had they been allowed to carry weapons of ANY kind.

Of course half a century ago, who knows what training they get today.

 

[Greyman50]

Gee when on Army pistol team at Ft Bragg in 73-74 every POV had a pistol in it, some 1911 some revolvers and even a PPK, lol.