Firearms base policies

Don't know if it's true, maybe someone can verify. I've heard that in the public (not on base) if you're driving your motorhome or the keys are in the ignition, your vehicle can be searched by law enforcement with probable cause (same as a car). However, if it's parked and the keys are not in the ignition, a search warrant is required (same as a house).

I'd like to know if this is true. When is a motor home treated as a vehicle and when is it treated as a residence? Not that I have anything to hide.

I wonder about the retired cops out there that are required to carry and have a permit to carry conceled. I am wondering if they require them to check their weapon in?

Don't know if it's true, maybe someone can verify. I've heard that in the public (not on base) if you're driving your motorhome or the keys are in the ignition, your vehicle can be searched by law enforcement with probable cause (same as a car). However, if it's parked and the keys are not in the ignition, a search warrant is required (same as a house).
I'd like to know if this is true. When is a motor home treated as a vehicle and when is it treated as a residence? Not that I have anything to hide.

You described it correctly. If you want to read up on it a bit more then do a web search of the Carroll Doctrine. That's the US Supreme Court ruling on mobility of vehicles and exceptions to needing an immediate search warrant.
I spent 35 yrs in law enforcement at the federal and state level.

I wonder about the retired cops out there that are required to carry and have a permit to carry conceled. I am wondering if they require them to check their weapon in?

Active and retired LEOs who qualify annually do not need a permit. Over 3 yrs ago the bill was passed (Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act) and signed by President Bush allowing all active LEOs and retired LEOs who qualify annually to carry concealed anywhere in the US, Washington DC, and territories. We just have to carry our ID if active and if retired our retired ID and card showing we've qualified in the past 12 months.
I've never been asked at any base if I had a firearm in my vehicle, except for one time I was asked. I was on duty, in full uniform, driving my squad, going to a meeting on a base. When I went thru the gate the guard asked me if I had any weapons on me. I told him my duty weapon, my backup, my issued shotgun, my issued AR-15, and a 37mm gas gun with a total of over 1000 rds of ammo. He replied "OK" and flagged me on thru. I can only guess the guy had asked the question so many times during his shift it was just a habit.
When I was an active LEO I had reason to be on several bases on official duty and off duty. Other than the incident I described above I was never disarmed nor told I couldn't carry on base.

Is it true that some bases have x-ray or some other sensor to detect explosives and/or firearms? I'd hate to have my firearm hidden somewhere in my coach and have them find it after not declaring it.

Al

I don't know your background Al nor do I much care after reading your post. I joined this group because I figured to find a group of military related, honest, law abiding, people here. I hope you learn to follow the rules and don't cause yourself great embarrasment to your country, service and family and friends by being caught with a hidden weapon. If you get caught then you deserve to read all the books they throw at you.
Chris the Bigfoot
40' American Dream
2000 Merc Mountaineer
DataStorm User #1226

Chris,

I think you missed my point. And, after reading my post again, maybe it was not clear. Let me make it perfectly clear what point I was trying to make.

Running the risk of security discovering an undeclared weapon is going to be a lot more "inconvenient" than declaring one in the first place. And, in my opinion, anyone who brings undeclared weapons aboard is undermining the security of that facility and deserves whatever punishment might be handed out. We agree totally on that.

I have been a LAWFUL hunter and recreational shooter all my life. I am a gunsmith and stockmaker (semi-retired)and have a profound respect for firearms and the laws that pertain to them. I have decided not to carry any firearms with us when we travel. I know the laws in each of our states and municipalities are different. And they can be interpreted differently by each and every law enforcement officer out there.

Al

Don't know if it's true, maybe someone can verify. I've heard that in the public (not on base) if you're driving your motorhome or the keys are in the ignition, your vehicle can be searched by law enforcement with probable cause (same as a car). However, if it's parked and the keys are not in the ignition, a search warrant is required (same as a house).

I'd like to know if this is true. When is a motor home treated as a vehicle and when is it treated as a residence? Not that I have anything to hide.

Larry,

I agree with Wadcutter. Haven't read the Carroll Doctrine for a while, but a Massachusettes State Trooper told me recently that if I'm on the road (or parking lot), I'm in a motor vehicle. If I'm in a RV park, campground, or recoginized "RV area", I'm in my home. He also indicated that WalMart would be a parking lot. I'll bet that's up for discussion.

On an aside, anyone carrying concealed sidearms from one state should be intimately aware of reciprocal agreements between state of license and other states.

Al

Interesting. I've only camped in a few military campgrounds, but have never been asked about firearms at any of them.