There are several shooting-sport events held on Fort Riley as well as hunting opportunities. However, people cannot walk around Fort Riley or drive through the gates with a firearm.
Security branch chief Mark Dombrowski said anytime a firearm is brought onto the installation it has to be registered in advance.
The process is different for service members and their families than it is for civilians.
Soldiers, family members
Soldiers and their family members are required to have their commander's approval to store a firearm in their on-post quarters or in the arms room.
"You can go ahead and have it temporarily registered at the gate," Dombrowski said. "All you have to do is pull up to the gate and declare that you have a firearm with you. And at that point, the [military police] and the guards there will help you temporarily register it."
Once the Soldier has the temporary registration, they need to take that piece of paper to their commander to show they have declared it on the installation.
"The commander is the person who will go ahead and give you permission to either keep it in the arms room or stored in on-post quarters," he said. "When the commander signs off on that paperwork, at that point, you'll be able to go ahead and take the paperwork to the Visitor Control Center. The people at the Visitor Control Center will register the firearm for you."
Civilians, retirees
Civilians and retirees can also participate in the shooting-sport activities, but their process eliminates the need to have a commander's approval.
"All you have to do is take your firearm down to the Visitor Control Center, and they will help you go ahead and register on to the installation," Dombrowski said.
All firearms
Once a firearm is registered, the rules are applicable to everyone. Registrations are valid for three years or until the owner has the registration removed from the database.
Any form of firearm can be registered as long as the owner has the authorization to own it.
"You can register whatever firearm you have," he said. "However, if you have a type three firearm, then you have to have the proper documentation to own that type of firearm."
Type three firearms include any that require a federal tax stamp, such as automatics and silencers.
The registration form, Fort Riley Form 102, is available online at home.army.mil/riley/index.php/my-fort/all-services/visitor-information and at the Visitor Control Center at Henry Gate. Pertinent information to fill out on the form includes the serial number, firearm type, model, make or brand and the caliber and gauge.
Simply having a registration on post does not give people the right to carry the firearm anywhere they want.
"The regulation does not allow for there to be any concealed or open carry on the installation," Dombrowski said.
Anytime a firearm is in someone's possession on post they must be in direct travel to their quarters, the storage location or the event at which it will be used.
The recommended storage for the firearm in a vehicle is in the trunk.
"But there are vehicles that don't have trunks, so it should be in the backseat in a case and ammo is to be stored separately from the firearm," he said.
Additionally, the weapon must be in a locked case or have a trigger lock installed.
According to the Visitor Control Center page on Fort Riley's website, the firearm rules pertain to any "revolver, rifle, pistol, shotgun or other device designed to shoot a bullet or other projectile by the means of an explosive or compressed charge. This does include bb and pellet guns. Paintball and Airsoft guns do not need to be registered; however, they still must be transported like all firearms."
