I recently returned from a TDY to a different base for a course lasting five weeks. During that period, to be in compliance with the law, I checked my firearm into the armory while on base. (This became a pain and you will see why in the following text.) Upon graduation we were given the opprotunity to critique the base facilities. This was my critique regarding the base armory. I was informed that it will go straight to the Wing and to the Armory from there.
Though it wasn't enforced until FPCON BRAVO, the base armory told me I needed a 24 hour appointment ahead of time to check out my firearm. I cannot read the future so I cannot know what I'll be doing exactly 24 hours from this exact minute. This made it ALMOST impossible to be able to carry my firearm when I went off base. The Base Armory's policy, while convenient for the security forces personnel, was only successful in disarming me for most of my time here for this TDY. I joined the military because I love the freedoms protected by the constitution and I want to do my part to protect them, so I felt that it was ludicrous that my constitutional rights were withheld from me because of some flimsy policy the Base Armory has. When I am off base, the Security Forces squadron will not respond to a call to help me and case law studies have proven that local law enforcement have no legal duty to protect me from violent crime. Because of this I feel that this policy needs to go.