Pistol storage at air force base in Illinois?

[bmash]

SIL is a pilot stationed at Scott AF base in IL. So no firearm taken on base plus complicated by being in IL. I will have to go through Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN - both great places! NOT!!
Any suggestions, short of not going to visit, for how to take a pistol? Store a it somewhere?, other options?, or is it just impossible? Thanks!

 

[david walter]

Call the base and ask. Usually not as complicated as people think.

 

[John?]

Have SIL meet you off base; handoff to him. His ID card will make things easier all around. He will likely need to do some paperwork in advance.

Ft Leavenworth, KS isn’t hard at all. Fill out paperwork in advance and declare at the gate. As I recall Scott is a bit more thorough because of their mission.

 

[Redmanss]

SIL is a pilot stationed at Scott AF base in IL. So no firearm taken on base plus complicated by being in IL. I will have to go through Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN - both great places! NOT!!
Any suggestions, short of not going to visit, for how to take a pistol? Store a it somewhere?, other options?, or is it just impossible? Thanks!

A. Get a hotel off base and leave your handgun in the room when you go on base
B. Ask the SIL what to do with it. Only folks stationed there will have that knowledge and even they will have to ask the MPs if they want to keep it to the letter of the UCMJ.

I personally leave only exhaust fumes in Illinois, filling up at the state line in Iowa or Indiana when I have to cross it, and set the cruise to the speed limit and drive exactly within the law. Its rare (and wife directed) that I even hit a rest area there. In the past I've completely gone around it and intentionally added a hundred miles or so, I hate the state that fucking much.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

In 40 years of going to military bases no one has ever asked me if I had a gun when entering the base. Not once. Army, Navy, Marine and USAF bases all over the world.

Then again, I never drove up to the gate guard and yelled, "I got a gun!!!!!" But you go ahead and do what you do.

Worst case, unload the gun and lock it in the trunk, unloaded. DO THIS STEP BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE GATE AND NOT IN THE VISITOR CENTER PARKING LOT. Bring a storage container or trigger lock if you feel like a democrat. And put it away.

BTW, I hate Illinois so fuck that state. I used to have to drive thru it twice a year. I gas up on one side and drive straight thru. I only ever spent tolls in that state. Enjoy your visit.

 

[david walter]

Ditto. Now closing in on 48 years on and off military installations, and I’ve never been asked if I had a gun.

Was hit on a random search once. Didn’t find anything.

 

[chevy_man]

My understanding is it's a pain in the ass. When I was contracting on a base they went into full lockdown for a mass shooter.
It was an airman putting an empty rifle case in his car, and he had time to go check his rifle out of the armory, and leave base before it was locked down.

As a contractor it was a solid no guns whatsoever. Airmen told me they could have anything legal, just had to check it into the armory and wasn't allowed in base housing.

 

[ironman56]

When I was in the AF back in the 70's ,I kept a rifle shotgun and pistol in my locker in the barracks for 2 years in alaska ,even though my shop chief told me when he picked me up at the airport that I would need to check them in at the armory the next morning , worked on several military bases since and never was searched or asked about weapons, of course if you get caught that's a whole different ballgame.

 

[david walter]

A lot of it is up to the Installation Commander, who is usually the Wing Commander. Some are relatively libertarian, some are authoritarian.

 

[plh]

Separated in NOV '23 but NAS/JRB FW would regularly inquire about weapons/ammo with the random vehicle searches thrown in for good measure. Imagine with all the ME hijinks, security is ramped up. Would let your SIL run things to ground and follow to a tee.

 

[Doc68]

Concealed means exactly that. I always had a pistol with me after I lived through the Fort Hood shooting. I came to grips I would rather take a court martial then be dead.

That's my .02 worth.

Doc

 

[EddieNFL]

In 40 years of going to military bases no one has ever asked me if I had a gun when entering the base. Not once. Army, Navy, Marine and USAF bases all over the world.

Then again, I never drove up to the gate guard and yelled, "I got a gun!!!!!" But you go ahead and do what you do.

Worst case, unload the gun and lock it in the trunk, unloaded. DO THIS STEP BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE GATE AND NOT IN THE VISITOR CENTER PARKING LOT. Bring a storage container or trigger lock if you feel like a democrat. And put it away.

BTW, I hate Illinois so fuck that state. I used to have to drive thru it twice a year. I gas up on one side and drive straight thru. I only ever spent tolls in that state. Enjoy your visit.

Couldn't count the number of times I’ve rolled through the gate only to remember I’m strapped.

Don’t know if it’s still the case, but when I left the panhandle in 2020, you could carry onto Hurlburt Field under certain circumstances. Drive onto Eglin eight miles away and expect Sarah Brady to be manning the gate.

 

[Doc68]

Couldn't count the number of times I’ve rolled through the gate only to remember I’m strapped.

Don’t know if it’s still the case, but when I left the panhandle in 2020, you could carry onto Hurlburt Field under certain circumstances. Drive onto Eglin eight miles away and expect Sarah Brady to be manning the gate.

NSA PC was the same way when I was there. Base commander allowed us to carry on duty if we had a CC permit. But that was 2013-2016. We had a lock box in the army office if we were gonna be in the pool or doing PT with the students where we could lock them up. If not we carried.

Doc

 

[EddieNFL]

A friend left the range on Hurlburt heading home. He lived on the east side of Eglin. Not thinking about he rolls up the the west gate and then remembers he was supposed to drive around. He tells the rent-a-cop and says he will exit. On, no. Too late. “Joe” was early 70s, retired E9. The washed out mall cops called for backup and started searching his car. Finally, the flight chief showed up, exercised a little common sense and let him go.