Anna General
Managing Editor, Ho’okele
Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
To promulgate procedures for the stowage, registration and possession of privately-owned firearms and dangerous weapons, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) implemented a new firearms instruction policy, May 31.
“Due to recent violations that involved unregistered weapons entering our base, it was time to inform the community that this was against base policy and regulations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Clarence Bradley, JBPHH deputy security officer.
This new policy, JBPHHINST 5530.1A, applies to all personnel within JBPHH, including active duty personnel, Reservists, Department of Defense (DoD) civilians, contractors, retirees, family members and their guests.
All residents living in public-private venture (PPV) housing within JBPHH, to include Hospital Point, Marine Barracks, Hale Alii, Earhart Village, Onizuka Village, Hale Na Koa Village and Officer Field are required to follow the new policy.
This also includes residents living at JBPHH annexes such as Makalapa Compound, Ford Island, West Loch, Wahiawa, McGrew Point, Pearl City Peninsula and Lualualei.
• Assault rifles
• Assault pistols
• Automatic firearms
• Rifles with barrel lengths less than 16 inches
• Shotguns with barrel lengths less than 18 inches
• Mufflers, silencers or devices for deadening or muffling the sound of discharged firearms
• Cannons, hand grenades, dynamite, blasting caps, bombs or bombshells, or other explosives
• Any type of ammunition designed to penetrate metal or pierce protective armor
• Any type of ammunition designed/intended to explode/segment upon impact with its target
“We are looking to inform the community most of all of the requirements and time they have to register their weapons with the state and Joint Base Security,” Bradley said.
According to the policy, all personnel must register firearms with the State of Hawaii at the Honolulu Police Department within five calendar days of taking possession of their weapons when they arrive on island. After registering with the state, they have three days from that date to register with Joint Base Security.
“The most notable changes to this policy are the limitations of weapons and ammunition that are allowed on the base,” Bradley said.
Each household is allowed no more than five weapons and no more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The instruction also states that there are waivers and options for additional weapons in place for these limitations that can be approved by the Joint Base Commander.
“The most important thing to learn about this new weapons policy is that violation of this policy can lead to the individual being barred from the base and a possible eviction from base housing. We strongly recommend that weapons owners take the time to register their weapons within the required timelines and take advantage of the waiver or storage options available if needed.”
For more information, contact Lt. Cmdr. Clarence Bradley at Clarence. bradley@navy.mil.