JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act credentialed personnel can now carry a concealed weapon in their vehicle, after recent revisions were made to the Joint Base Andrews Instruction 31-101, Integrated Defense.
Under the new procedures, personnel who are LEOSA qualified can bring their weapon onto the installation. However, the weapon must remain in their vehicles out of sight and not be accessible to non-LEOSA credentialed personnel that may also be in the vehicle. The weapon should only be taken out of the vehicle if being turned in to the Security Forces armory or being taken in to assigned base housing for storage. Privately owned firearms may not be taken into any other facilities on JBA at any time.
"It allows qualified and former officers with significant time in law enforcement, to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in the U.S., provided they have the proper credentials and training on the weapon," said Steve Hubbard, 11th Security Support Squadron deputy director.
Individuals on the installation must have their valid LEOSA credentials and weapons qualification documentation readily available at all times when they have a firearm in their privately owned vehicles while on base, according to Tech. Sgt. Kristin Ray, 11th Security Support Squadron, NCO in charge of plans and programs.
LEOSA credentialed individuals must immediately inform law enforcement or command officials there is a firearm in the vehicle or on their person when stopped for base entry point checks, traffic violations or for any other reason by law enforcement or command officials.
However, individuals do not need to inform the gate sentry when they are checking identification to allow base access, according to Hubbard.
These changes do not affect the current policy of privately owned weapons on JBA, specifically the 72 hour registration requirement and the prohibition on open carry of privately owned weapons.
For more information, contact Tech. Sgt. Ray at 301-981-8551 or Mr. Hubbard at 301-981-5947.