This regulation establishes the criteria for possessing, carrying, concealing, and transporting firearms and/or other deadly or dangerous weapons and instruments on Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield (AAF) installations.

(a) The provisions of this regulation apply to all Department of Defense (DOD) military; civilian personnel; U.S. Army Reserve/National Guard (USAR/NG) personnel on post for active duty training or inactive training in conjunction with Active Army elements, military family members; civilians employed on, visiting, or traveling through or on the Fort Stewart/Hunter AAF installation.

(b) This regulation will not become void in its entirety merely because one part or portion thereof is declared unconstitutional or void.

(c) This regulation is punitive, Military violators of the regulations may be prosecuted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice or may be subject to administrative action. Civilian violators may be subject to administrative or judicial action under title 18, United States Code, or title 16, Criminal Code of Georgia.

(a) Ammunition. Projectiles together with their fuses, propelling charges, and primers that are designed to be expelled from a firearm. This includes any type of military and commercial ammunition (ball, tracer, incendiary, blank, shotgun, black powder, and shot). Items shall only be considered as ammunition when loaded into a cartridge with its bullets and primer.

(b) BB and pellet guns. Any type rifle, pistol or other instrument designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to expel BBs or pellets by springs, compressed air, CO2 or any other compressed gas cartridge.

(c) Dangerous instruments. Any device which is designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to be used as an offensive or defensive weapon. Devices of this type include but are not limited to:

(1) “Constant companion” or any similar weapon, designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to be worn as a belt buckle, brass kunckles, “Knucklers,” and “Knucks.”

(2) Studded or spiked wrist bands, or any device designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to fit over the hand or wrist which can be used to cause grave bodily harm.

(3) Black jacks, slapjacks, slappers, saps, including homemade substitutes, other bludgeons (with or without handles), and metal pipes.

(4) “Nanchaku” (num-chucks), two or more sticks connected by rope, cord or chain and normally used as a martial arts weapon. “Shuriken”, a disc or any geometrical object designed to be thrown as a weapon. “Manrikigusari” or “Kusari,” a rope or cord joined to a weight at each end and designed to be used as a weapon.

(5) Any finger ring with blades or sharp objects that are capable of being projected/extended from the surface of the ring.

(6) Any device capable and primarily intended for discharging darts or needles.

(7) All firearms.

(d) Explosive, incendiary, and pyrotechnic devices. Any type of military or commercial explosive, incendiary, gas or smoke bomb, grenade, rocket, missile, mine, blasting cap, “dummy” and/or practice device such as simulators, and other similar detonating devices which are capable of being altered to contain a live charge, and pyrotechnic devices such as firecrackers, cherry bombs, bottlerockets, and starclusters.

(e) Firearms. Any type of weapon which is designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to expel a projectile by action of any explosion, and the frame or receiver of any such weapon. This does not include antique firearms, antique replicas, and those modern firearms which have been rendered permanently incapable of being fired.

(f) Knives, sabers, swords, and machetes. Any instrument having a sharp blade which is fastened to a handle, or made with a handle. Measurement of the blade will be from the tip of the blade to the point where the blade meets the handle. This includes folding knives, switchblades, gravity knives, stilettos, lock blade knives, swords, sabers, and machetes.

(g) Machine gun and automatic weapon. A weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, modified or remodified to automatically fire more than one shot by a single pull of the trigger.

(h) Public gathering. Shall include, but shall not be limited to, athletic or sporting events, schools or school functions, churches or church functions, rallies, or establishments at which alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises.

(i) Shotgun. A weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder; and designed or redesigned, made or remade, to use the energy or the explosive in a fixed shotgun shell to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.

(j) Sawed-off shotgun. A shotgun or any weapon made from a shotgun whether by alteration, modification, or otherwise having one or more barrels less than 18 inches in length or if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 20 inches.

(k) Sawed-off rifle. A weapon designed or redesigned, made or remade, and intended to be fired from the shoulder; and designed or redesigned, made or remade, to use the energy of the explosive in a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only as a single projectile through a rifle bore for each single pull of the trigger; and which has a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches or has an overall length of less than 26 inches.

(l) Silencer. Any device used for suppressing or diminishing the report of any firearm.

(m) Weapon. An instrument used in an offensive or defensive manner.

(a) Prohibited items. It is prohibited to possess, carry, conceal, transport, store, transfer or sell any of the following weapons or devices on, through or within the confines of Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF installations unless specifically allowed elsewhere in this regulation:

(1) Sawed-off shotgun.

(2) Sawed-off rifle.

(3) Machine gun and automatic weapons.

(4) Silencers.

(5) Dangerous instruments as defined in § 552.100(c).

(6) Explosives, Incendiary and Pyrotechnic Devices, as defined in § 552.100(d).

(7) Knives with automatic blade openers (i.e., switch blades, gravity knives, stilettos) of any blade length. Folding or fixed bladed knives with a blade length of more than 3 inches. Swords, sabers, and machetes with sharpened blades.

(8) Any object which carries an electrical current of sufficient wattage to deliver a shock to a person, such as cattle prods, “taser” or “public defenders.”

(b) Carrying a concealed weapon. A person commits the offense of carrying a concealed weapon when he/she knowingly has or carries about his/her person, unless in an open manner and fully exposed to view, any bludgeon, metal knuckles, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense, or any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character outside of his/her home or place of business.

(c) Carrying Deadly Weapons to or at Public Gatherings. A person commits an offense under this section when he/she carries to or while at a public gathering any explosive compound, firearm, or knife designed for the purpose of offense and defense. This paragraph shall not apply to competitors participating in organized sporting events, military personnel in a formation when a weapon is required, or to police/security personnel while in performance of their duties.

(d) Prohibited Possession and Storage. It is prohibited for a person, military or civilian, to possess or store ammunition, firearms, knives with blades more than 3 inches, bows and arrows, crossbows, and BB and pellet guns, in locations other than those locations specified in § 552.102, except under conditions specified in § 552.103. Prohibited locations for these items include, but are not limited to, living spaces and common areas of billets, squad rooms, privately-owned vehicles, exterior storage sheds, camper trailers, and offices. Commanders will designate an arms room and times for weapons turn-in. During periods when arms rooms are closed, the Staff Duty Officer (SDO) will ensure the weapon is secured in accordance with (IAW) this regulation. A receipt will be given for each weapon received, reflecting the weapon's make, serial number, identity of owner and other data deemed appropriate.

(e) Exemptions. Nothing in this regulation shall prohibit:

(1) Military members or DOD civilian employees from possessing or using military weapons, military ammunition or explosives, or military devices in a lawful manner while in the performance of their military duties or for training or other authorized purposes, as prescribed by applicable Army Regulations.

(2) Military and DOD civilian personnel, while in the performance of official law enforcement duties, from possessing or using government ammunition, explosives or devices in a lawful manner, as prescribed by applicable laws or regulations or by their lawful superiors.

(3) Federal, state, county or local law enforcement personnel, while in the performance of official law enforcement duties, from possessing or using government or privately-owned weapons, ammunition, explosives or devices in a lawful manner, as prescribed by applicable laws or regulations or by their lawful superiors.

(4) Government contractors, while in performance of their contract from possessing or using weapons, ammunition, explosives or devices, IAW the provisions of their contract and as determined by the Contracting Officer.

(5) Individuals with Federal Firearms Licenses (Class III) from possessing, carrying, and transporting Class III weapons IAW Federal regulations; however, they are prohibited from concealing, storing, transferring, or selling Class III weapons within the confines of Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF.

(6) Individuals from possessing, carrying, transporting, or storing decorative, ornamental, and ceremonial swords and sabers within the confines of Fort Stewart and Hunter AAF when used strictly for display and ceremonies. When used as a cutting instrument, they become a prohibited item.

(7) Individuals and agencies from possessing, transporting, storing, selling, or using fixed bladed knives with a blade length of more than 3 inches when used for their lawful purpose (i.e., steak knives, cooking knives, hunting knives) and when in compliance with all other requirements in this regulation.

DOD military and civilian personnel, their family members, USAR/NG personnel and civilians employed on, visiting or traveling through this installation may possess legally-defined and privately-owned firearms, ammunition, BB and pellet guns, knives, bows and arrows, and crossbows under the following conditions:

(a) Privately-owned firearms, crossbows, BB and pellet guns possessed or stored on the installation must be registered at the installation Provost Marshal's Office within three working days after arrival on the installation, or after obtaining the weapon, except:

(1) Firearms legally brought onto the installation for the purpose of hunting or firing at an approved firing range, and only for the period of time the person possessing the firearms is hunting or firing on the range.

(2) Firearms carried by federal, state, county or local law enforcement personnel when in the performance of official law enforcement duties.

(3) Firearms carried or transported, in full compliance with Georgia State Laws, on Georgia State Highways 119 and 144 by personnel traveling through the installation only. Travel off of these state highways or stopping, other than for emergency purposes, while on the installation is prohibited.

(b) Personnel residing in family housing, BOQ, BEQ/VOQ and guest housing, may store legally-acquired, authorized ammunition, knives with a blade measuring more than 3 inches, bows and arrows, registered crossbows, registered BB and pellet guns and registered firearms within their quarters.

(c) Personnel residing in troop billets may store legally-acquired authorized ammunition, knives and blades measuring more than 3 inches, bows and arrows, registered crossbows, registered BB and pellet guns and registered firearms in unit arms rooms. The unit arms room should utilize a standard weapons card and log book to document storage, removal, and return.

(d) Persons using weapons borrowed from another must have the documentation required in § 552.103(a) as applicable in their possession when carrying, transporting or using the weapon on the installation.

(e) Persons under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a person over the age of 21 who will be responsible for compliance with the requirements of this regulation while hunting or target shooting on the installation and when purchasing legal arms (including knives with blades over 3 inches) and ammunition from installation retail outlets.

(f) Persons must be in compliance with federal and state laws regarding possession (i.e., age, criminal record restrictions, etc.)

(g) Storage, accountability and registration procedures will be IAW Army Regulation 190-11 and supplements.

Persons legally authorized to possess firearms, ammunition, knives (with blades longer than 3 inches), bows and arrows, and crossbows, may carry or transport legally possessed and registered (if required) weapons under the following conditions.

(a) For purposes of hunting: From quarters, on or off the installation, by the most direct route to hunting area or Pass and Permit Office and return. Stopping at other installation facilities while enroute is prohibited (i.e., Post Exchange, Club, offices, etc.). Individual must have in his/her possession weapon registration (if applicable), valid state hunting license, valid Fort Stewart hunting permit and an area access pass (if applicable).

(b) For purposes of target shooting, selling the weapon or having the weapon repaired: From quarters by the most direct route to approved range or to the location where the weapon is to be sold or repaired and returned. Stopping at other installation facilities while enroute is prohibited. Individual must have in his/her possession at all times his/her registration (if applicable).

(1) When carried, weapons will be carried in an open manner (not concealed). Firearms will be unloaded when carried (i.e., projectiles physically separated from the firearms, not just removed from the chamber), except when actually engaged in hunting or shooting. Knives will be carried in a sheath or scabbard worn in a clearly visible manner. Commanders may authorize the carrying of a privately-owned knife with a blade over 3 inches to field duty, provided it is carried IAW Victory Standard and exposed in a sheath/scabbard. The Provost Marshal may authorize the carrying of a privately-owned, sheathed, lock blade knife on military and DOD police officers' pistol belts.

(2) When transported in a vehicle, weapons will be in plain view in the passenger area of the vehicle or secured (locked) in the trunk or other rear compartment of the vehicle, not readily accessible from the passenger area (i.e., locked tool box secured to bed of a truck). Firearms will be unloaded and the ammunition physically separated from the firearms. The glove compartment of a vehicle is NOT an authorized compartment for storing pistols.

(3) Firearms, bows and arrows, crossbows, BB and pellet guns will not be loaded, fired or used within the cantonment areas of the installation; within 50 yards of any public highway, street or Fort Stewart numbered road or across same; within 100 yards of any designated recreation area, managed waters, building or similar structures; any aircraft landing facility (to include currently used landing or stage fields); any ammunition storage area (except on approved firing range when properly authorized).

(4) Persons not affiliated with DOD or this installation must remain on Georgia State Highways 119 and 144 when carrying or transporting weapons through the installation and must be in full compliance with Georgia State Law governing possession, use and transportation of said weapons. Travel off of these highways or stopping, for other than emergency purposes, while on the installation, is prohibited.

All weapons, ammunition, explosives or other devices defined in this regulation, that are confiscated pursuant to the commission of a crime or violation of this or other regulation or found unsecured/unattended on the installation, will be immediately turned over to the military police, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC), or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for investigation, retention as evidence, or other lawful disposition. When retention for investigation or evidence is no longer required by military police, USACIDC, or other law enforcement or judicial agencies, the items will be disposed of under the provisions of AR 195-5, Evidence Procedures.