Wow.. a lot of misconceptions.
They're required by federal law to allow non military members to use it.
Actually, they're not.
If you look at the US Code that KBCraig cited, it reads:
All rifle ranges constructed in whole or in part with funds provided by the United States may be used by members of the armed forces and by persons capable of bearing arms.
The key phrase there is "...may be used..." Non-military people (civilians) have no more right to use a range than they have to walk into the motor pool and take a tank for a joy ride. Think you have a "right" to use ranges? Don't go to Range 15... pull onto Range 14 and start blasting away and see what happens.
The code was written the way it was to allow non-military entities to use Dept. of Defense assets, etc. Ft. Lewis ranges and training areas are also used by city, county and state police organizations, as well as Feds such as Seattle FBI, US Marshals, Bomb Disposal Units, etc.
Section C of the code states:
Regulations to carry out this section with respect to a rifle range shall be prescribed, subject to the approval of the Secretary concerned, by the authorities controlling the rifle range.
The authority controlling the range (and training areas) is Range Control, which falls under DPTMS (Directorate of Plans, Training Mobilization and Security)
Range 15 is operated by MWR, which stands for Morale, Welfare and Recreation. This program was designed as a benefit for military personnel. It is provided for their use... not for the general public. Some MWR facilities are open to the public, others aren't.. like the Auto Craft Shop where soldiers can repair their cars, etc.
Though not falling under MWR, there are many other activities that civilians can do on Ft Lewis training areas (with permission): Horseback riding, hunting... hell, there was even a group called "The Sam 8 Club" that used to use the drop zones to fire off model rockets.
Anyway... Use of Ft Lewis assets by civilians, such as Range 15, is not a "right", but a privilege.
"Who's this Phineas J. Whoopee guy? He joins the forum and on his first post starts running his mouth and telling people that they're wrong, etc"
Well... I worked as an Operations NCO at Ft. Lewis Range Control for several years until I retired. I was also the NCOIC of Range Control at Ft. McCoy, WI. We didn't have anything like Range 15 up there, but we did open up several ranges to the public prior to deer season so they could zero their rifles and then gave them free access to the training areas so they could hunt. So yeah, I know a bit about the rules and regs concerning ranges, what's allowed and what isn't.
Ok, back on topic... Range 15 and I suppose also, weapon registration.
I was out to the range the last two weekends and yes, there's a new sign hanging on the wall. What it said about civilians, I don't know as I'm a retiree and it didn't concern me enough to read it all. But here's a quote from the MWR web site:
Who may use the range? All military issued ID card holders and sponsored non-military guest may use the facilities (NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)”.
So I guess that answers that.
Why the change, I don't know. Possibly due to the heightened security issues? Trying to limit the number of non-military affiliated people having a reason to drive around base with weapons and ammunition? I can't say.
Registering weapons on base in order to hunt or use Range 15.
Firstly, active duty personal always had a requirement to register their weapons in one fashion or another, especially if they lived in the barracks. (weapon kept in the arms room, and yeah, you had to tell your CO that you were going shooting on the weekend and he had to sign a form so you could draw out your weapon, etc) There's different rules concerning if you live in base housing or reside off post as to requirements but that probably doesn't concern most of us.
And now, since civilians are no longer allowed to use Range 15, I suppose the registration issue just affects us retirees and I'll give my personal opinion on the issue.
"It blows!"
I hate registering my weapons as much as the next guy, but I had to take a practical look at it. Federal Govt. already knows I exist. They already have my finger prints... hell, thanks to DOD policy back in the 90's the FBI even has my DNA on file! As for weapons, well duh! The ones that I bought from dealers are already linked to me so it's not like I can keep them secret or something.
So anyway, here's the procedure.
I had bought two pistols as gifts for my sons last month and wanted to go to Range 15 to break them in. They were bought from a dealer so the serial numbers were already linked to me in a data base somewhere so what's the big deal if Ft. Lewis gets them, too?
This was done at Waller Hall... same place you go to for vehicle registration and ID cards.
Usual form to fill out: Name, Address, Phone #, along with make, model, caliber, serial number.
Was surprised that they took a picture, though. Figured that they should have still had a digitalized copy stored somewhere from my retiree ID card.
Five minutes later I got a temporary permit, good for 30 days. I noted that there was info on it that I hadn't filled in on the application: Height, weight, eye, hair... Even had Marital Status: Divorced. Weapons registration, vehicle registration, ID Card section... all tied in to the same network, I suppose. Nothing new, there. Actual Registration/permit came in the mail 3 days later.
Why couldn't they give me the "actual Registration" right then? I suppose they needed time to do a quick background check.. city, state... like that phone background check that gun dealers do or something.
Well, the reg states that I have to tell the gate guard that I have weapons in the car. Let's see how this works in practice.
That Saturday I drove in through the Dupont gate and told the guy I had weapons in the trunk. He really didn't seem too knowledgeable as to what he was supposed to do so he told me to pull through and park to the side. A few minutes later another guard came over. I showed him the registration paper and he said, "Have a nice day." Now... why couldn't the first guy have done that?
OK, fun day at the range over... let's see how the gate guards down the road from Range 15 handle this. Told the guard that I had weapons in the trunk and he told me to pull ahead and park it. Another guard came over, I showed him the registration form and he asked me to pop the trunk and then checked each serial numbers against what was listed on the form. We chatted for about 5 minutes, each agreeing that this was bogus and then I was on my way.
What's this mean? Does this mean the guards aren't properly briefed as to what the procedure is. Was the first guard just lazy? Was the second guard going too far? Is it left up to the Guard's discretion as to what actions to take, I don't know.
Well.. I hope I've cleared up a couple of misconceptions and provided some info as to how things are concerning Range 15 and the weapons registration issue.
