MARADMINS : 176/14
R 031603Z APR 14
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 176/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS POLICY ABOARD MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS//
REF/A/DOC/USD(I) WASHINGTON DC/17APR2012//
REF/B/DOC/CMC WASHINGTON DC PPO PS/05JUN2009//
REF/C/DOC/COMUSFFC AND COMMARFORCOM/31OCT2013//
NARR/REFERENCE (A) IS DOD MANUAL 5100.76, PHYSICAL SECURITY OF SENSITIVE CONVENTIONAL ARMS, AMMUNITION, AND EXPLOSIVES. REFERENCE (B) IS MCO 5530.14A, MARINE CORPS PHYSICAL SECURITY PROGRAM MANUAL, WHICH ADDRESSES THE COMMANDER'S AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE STORAGE OF PERSONAL WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION ABOARD INSTALLATIONS. REFERENCE (C) IS THE COMMANDER, U.S. FLEET FORCES COMMAND AND COMMANDER, U.S. MARINE CORPS FORCES COMMAND BASE, STATION, AND INSTALLATION PHYSICAL SECURITY ASSESSMENT REPORT, PART 2.//
POC/MR. TONY PIERCE/CIV/UNIT: PPO PS/EMAIL: CHARLES.A.PIERCE1(AT)USMC.MIL/TEL: (703) 695-7202//
POC/MR. BOB RICE/CIV/UNIT: MCICOM/EMAIL: ROBERT.D.RICE(AT)USMC.MIL/TEL: (571) 256-8420//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. FOLLOWING THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD SHOOTING ON 16 SEPTEMBER 2013, THE MARINE CORPS CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SERVICE POLICY RELATED TO THE HANDLING, STORAGE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION ABOARD OUR INSTALLATIONS. AS A RESULT OF THAT REVIEW, GAPS IN POLICY WERE IDENTIFIED. THIS MARADMIN ADDRESSES THESE GAPS WHILE REEMPHASIZING CURRENT GUIDANCE IN REFERENCES (A) AND (B). IN ORDER TO ENSURE GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE, SECURITY, AND FORCE PROTECTION, WE WILL MORE AGGRESSIVELY ADDRESS FIREARMS POLICIES ACROSS OUR TOTAL FORCE THROUGH MORE CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS, ENGAGED LEADERSHIP, AND INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY. MARINES ARE EXPECTED TO HANDLE PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN HANDLING THEIR INDIVIDUAL T/O WEAPONS.
2. BACKGROUND. REFERENCE (A) PROVIDES BROAD OVERARCHING PHYSICAL SECURITY POLICY FOR CONVENTIONAL ARMS, AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES. AS A RESULT OF RECENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE MISUSE OF FIREARMS ABOARD MARINE CORPS BASES AND STATIONS, IN ORDER TO ENSURE FULL COMPLIANCE WITH REFERENCE (B), AND AS DIRECTED BY REFERENCE (C), A HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS STUDY GROUP LED BY COMMANDER, MARINE FORCES COMMAND AND PRIMARILY SUPPORTED BY THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR PLANS, POLICIES AND OPERATIONS, AND THE DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS, WAS FORMED TO REVIEW PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. THE REVIEW FOUND THAT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) GUIDANCE ASSIGNS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONALLY OWNED FIREARMS TO DOD COMPONENTS AND THAT CURRENT MARINE CORPS POLICY DOES ADDRESS THE POSSESSION, SECURITY, REGISTRATION, AND STORAGE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO OVERARCHING PRESCRIPTIVE INSTRUCTION ADEQUATELY GOVERNING THE USE AND HANDLING OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS ABOARD INSTALLATIONS AT EITHER THE DOD OR MARINE CORPS LEVEL. ACCORDINGLY, THE INTENT OF THIS MARADMIN IS TO PUBLISH THE MINIMUM BASELINE STANDARDS FOR ALL MARINE INSTALLATIONS AS INTERIM POLICY UNTIL DOD GUIDANCE IS UPDATED AND THE UPDATE TO REFERENCE (B) IS COMPLETED, STAFFED, AND APPROVED.
3. EXECUTION
3.A. ALL COMMANDERS WILL REVIEW AND UPDATE THEIR CURRENT LOCAL DIRECTIVES CONCERNING PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCE (B), THIS MARADMIN, AND IN COORDINATION WITH THEIR SERVICING HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE (TO FULFILL LABOR OBLIGATIONS). CONSISTENT WITH THE REFERENCES AND INSTALLATION COMMANDERS' INHERENT AUTHORITY TO ENSURE GOOD ORDER, DISCIPLINE, SECURITY, AND FORCE PROTECTION ABOARD THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTALLATIONS, LOCAL DIRECTIVES WILL CONTAIN PROVISIONS THAT:
3.A.1. PROHIBIT PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS IN ALL FEDERAL FACILITIES, TO INCLUDE GOVERNMENT LEASED SPACES AND GOVERNMENT VEHICLES.
3.A.2. PROHIBIT CARRYING PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS AS CONCEALED WEAPONS ABOARD MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS.
3.A.3. ENSURE ALL PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS STORED ABOARD MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS ARE REGISTERED AND ON FILE WITH THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE/MARINE CORPS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
3.A.4. PROHIBIT STORAGE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN BACHELOR ENLISTED QUARTERS (BEQ) (NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND BELOW). STORAGE WITHIN THE BACHELOR OFFICER QUARTERS (BOQ) AND STAFF NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER BEQ IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTALLATION COMMANDER. COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO ALLOW MARINES TO STORE PERSONALLY OWNED FIREARMS IN UNIT OR INSTALLATION ARMORIES.
3.A.5. REEMPHASIZE COMPLIANCE REGARDING STORAGE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN GOVERNMENT FAMILY HOUSING.
3.A.6. IN ALL CASES, PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS WILL BE STORED IN A FULLY ENCASED CONTAINER (E.G. COMMERCIAL GUN SAFE, HARD PLASTIC CASE, ETC.) THAT IS CAPABLE OF COMPLETELY ENCLOSING THE FIREARMS AND BEING LOCKED WITH A KEY OR COMBINATION LOCK. ALL FIREARMS WILL BE FITTED WITH A TRIGGER LOCK.
3.A.7. AMMUNITION MUST BE STORED SEPARATELY FROM FIREARMS AND IN A CONTAINER CAPABLE OF BEING LOCKED WITH A KEY OR COMBINATION LOCK.
3.A.8. PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS WILL NOT BE STORED IN PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES (POV'S) ABOARD MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS.
3.A.9. ALL PERSONNEL WILL CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS FOR THE PURCHASE, REGISTRATION, TRANSPORTATION, AND STORAGE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION.
3.A.10. TRANSPORTING PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS IS AUTHORIZED IN POV'S TO AND FROM AN AUTHORIZED STORAGE AREA OR TO AN OFF-BASE LOCATION CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LAWS. THEY MAY ALSO BE TRANSPORTED TO AND FROM ON-BASE AREAS WHERE FIREARMS USE IS AUTHORIZED, SUCH AS HUNTING AREAS OR RECREATIONAL SHOOTING RANGES. CURRENT POLICIES THAT PERMIT HUNTERS ON BASES ARE ADEQUATE AND THIS MARADMIN DOES NOT REQUIRE THEIR WEAPONS TO BE REGISTERED UNLESS THEY ARE STORED ON BASE.
3.A.11. COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE ALL PERSONNEL UNDERSTAND AND COMPLY WITH THE CONTENTS OF THIS MARADMIN.
3.B. COMMANDERS WITH OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OVER AN ARMORY WILL:
3.B.1. ENSURE DAILY SIGHT COUNTS AND INVENTORIES REFLECT ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROPER STORAGE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS.
3.B.2. ENSURE ANY PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARM WHOSE OWNER CANNOT BE DETERMINED IS DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN THE REFERENCES.
4. COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
4.A. INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL COORDINATE WITH THEIR SUPPORTED COMMANDERS/TENANTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THIS MARADMIN AND ITS APPLICABILITY.
4.B. TENANT COMMANDS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO BASE ORDERS ABOARD MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS WILL COMPLY WITH THIS MARADMIN AND APPLICABLE ORDERS/DIRECTIVES.
4.C. GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN THIS MARADMIN WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE NEXT REVISION TO REFERENCE (B).
5. SIGNAL. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY GENERAL JOHN. M. PAXTON, JR., ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//