Air Force Allows CCW On or Off Duty

SOFREP ^ | 1-6-15 | Nick Coffman

[Paul46360]

Who ever said the Air Force wasn’t hardcore?

In a report given by an Air Force security forces officer, base commanders across the country will be able to authorize the carry of guns by on- or off-duty airmen. The 2015 attack on a Chattanooga, Tennessee recruiting office is a large part of what prompted the change in policy. Some critics had pointed out that armed servicemen could have stopped the threat before any innocent civilians were killed. Instead, the shooter’s rampage lasted until police were able to respond and kill the attacker, Muhammad Youseef Abdulazeez.

[DoughtyOne]

[AlaskaErik]

I find this very hard to believe. Especially considering who the CinC is. I still see “Firearms Prohibited” signs every time I go on a military base.

[NEMDF]

Probably the fine print is that, any base commanders who do authorize carrying weapons, will be immediately relieved of his or her duty.

[ConservativeWarrior]

Either that or the base commanders will only allow officers to carry.

I’m ex AF, but met plenty of airmen I wouldn’t trust with a loaded gun. And on the flightline? FOD waiting to happen. Commandeer a plane. Many reasons to think twice.

[Yo-Yo]

As the story in the Military Times said, the Air Force reminded commanders that they have always had the authority to authorize concealed carry on their bases.

[afsnco]

It’s about time, but doesn’t go far enough. How about retirees and civilian employees? Could be times when they’re the only ones in the BX or commissary in an active shooter scenario and if they’re unarmed, carnage would be maximized.

The policy should be that if retirees or civilian employees have authority from the surrounding state to carry a concealed weapon, they can carry on base too.

I’m a retiree and the AF has known me for 40 years and don’t trust me with a weapon. For crying out loud, the AF is an ARMED service! My state has known me not nearly as long and they DO trust me with a weapon. Something wrong with this picture. As it stands, I only go on base once or twice per year. I can’t just “pop in” to the base as I’m driving by because I’m usually carrying. And being a white male, they’d nail me to wall if they caught me.

[pfflier]

There will be plenty of detractors who say that allowing servicemen and women to carry weapons will not solve the problem. And they are right on one side. It will not be a guarantee that an active shooter will not take civilian lives........off base in designated gun free zones.

Read more: http://sofrep.com/46630/air-force-allow-personal-weapons-off-duty/#ixzz3yU2scBB2

[BraveMan]

On July 21, 2015, Governor Scott Walker (R) issued executive order #168 to arm the Wisconsin National Guard, allowing them, in the wake of the Chattanooga attack, to carry weapons while on duty.

[USAF80]

In the event that you do get searched and they find a weapon most likley they would deny entry.

[antidisestablishment]

Funny, if you follow the links all the way back to the original story, that's not what it says at all. The AF is pushing three programs to allow SECURITY FORCES personnel and specially-trained "Marshalls" to carry. As an aside, it mentions that base commanders have the authority to allow on-post carry, but that has always been the case. However, unless there is a major policy change, that is unlikely.

This story is like the telephone game from grade school: the original meaning was completely lost in translation.

[School of Rational Thought]

You are correct sir regarding carry. But one interesting nugget from the Military.com article is this: The Air Force on Wednesday said its review of "active-shooter incidents across the country" found that many ended without police intervention because someone present with a weapon stopped the shooter.

But as you correctly point out, carry would be restricted to certain persons. What I though alarming, at least under the one program, was that personnel would be restricted to protecting one's own position, but not allowed to respond by going toward gun fire.

[glennaro]

BREAKING NEWS:
Trained soldiers and sailors of the U.S. Armed Forces are allowed to carry weapons!

("Hooda thunk" we'd ever come to this!)

[antidisestablishment]

Exactly! Participants in the Marshal program are not allowed to respond. Seems to be the most telling aspect of the initiative. That opens participants up to prosecution if they attack the perpetrators. This makes the whole program just more toothless window dressing. The other “carry” provisions are restricted to Security Forces and, while reasonable, do out address the root issue of using non-SF personnel as a force multiplier.

Congress should pass reciprocity laws nationwide and eliminate the base commanders’ input completely. Commanders are too political and not one will make the right call when they see a possibility of personal liability.

It drives me nuts. I have clearance, am a reservist who has qualified and carried in service and have a CCW permit. There isn’t another hoop I could jump through, but I am prohibited from carrying because I work on federal property. I don’t want to carry at work, but carrying to and from work and then securing my weapon in the car seems reasonable to me.

Anyone who knows security understands that the most vulnerable time is when you travel a known route. Kinda hard to vary routes when one is funneled though a security checkpoint that is often backed up for miles.

[DungeonMaster]

While in the Army I and another soldier did TDY at Offutt AFB. We were sooooooooo jealous of everything there. The food, the facilities, the duties, respect shown to lowly enlisted men, everything!

[Paul46360]

Yeah..us AF guys liked our accommodations.

[Manly Warrior]

The only DOD non police personnel who will be authorized to carry on base/post on or off duty will be MPI,CId, NCIS AFI etc. The general trooper airman or swabby will never be so authorized-even if they are warriors.