Open-carry law does not impact Tinker Published June 21, 2012 By Brandice J. O'Brien Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In November, a new Oklahoma law that allows citizens with concealed-carry permits to openly carry their firearms will go into effect. But it will not have any impact on Tinker. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed the law, previously known as Senate Bill 1733, May 15. Tinker officials said because the law is a state mandate and not a federal regulation, it will have no bearing on Tinker, a federally owned piece of government property. "Despite the state law, the installation commander has the authority to restrict personally and privately owned weapons on the installation, which he has," said Master Sgt. Jarrod Williford, 72nd Security Forces Squadron superintendent of Plans and Programs. "The purpose of that is not to infringe on anybody's civil liberties, but to ensure a safe community for everyone on the installation." Sergeant Williford said, according to Tinker's bylaws, the only individuals who are allowed to openly carry on the base are military folks performing official missions that require their government-issued weapons, and local law enforcement officials, when they're performing duties here. "We get calls about this subject a lot, a whole lot," the sergeant said. "We have people who go out and get a concealed-weapons license and are under the impression they can carry a concealed weapon on this installation and it's absolutely not true." Even those who live on base and own firearms must abide by certain requirements, none of which allows them to openly carry their weapons. Residents must register the weapon at the new 72nd SFS Pass and ID building, Bldg. 6611, and are allowed to transport their firearms to and from their home, unless they live in the dorms. Then, residents are permitted to move their weapons from the armory to an off-base location and directly back to the armory. Additionally, if housing residents keep their weapon within their home, they must keep it under a double lock. If unlawfully caught with a weapon, Sergeant Williford said there will be consequences. Military members will be cited with a "Failure to obey a lawful order" and their commander will determine the appropriate punishment. For civilians, it's violation of federal law and they will be cited by security forces or local law enforcement, depending on where they are caught on the installation, and their case will be heard in a downtown Oklahoma City magistrate court, which will also determine the appropriate course of action. "The end result is all the same; anybody caught carrying a personal weapon when they're not supposed to be carrying a personal weapon will be prosecuted," the sergeant said. Sergeant Williford said once every couple of months someone is cited for unlawfully carrying a weapon. Usually those occurrences happen when a vehicle is randomly inspected driving on base and the firearm is found.