A new order pertaining to the sale of firearms and ammunition on all installations within Marine Corps Installations West is now in effect.

Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Order 8370.1 states that the Marine Corps Exchange will be the only organization authorized to sell firearms and ammunition on base.

This base order references state and federal laws pertaining to the requirements of individuals making firearms purchases. Firearms will be made only to those individuals who meet all the requirements. Some of those requirements are: the purchaser must be 18 years of age or older for rifles and shotguns, 21 years of age or older to purchase a pistol, have a California state driver’s license or copy of most recent orders accompanied by a letter from the commanding officer verifying the purchaser is in that command, and two forms of identification.

Additionally the order, in compliance with state and local ordinances, defines who is not eligible to make a firearms or ammunition purchase. Some of those disqualifiers are: convicted felons, fugitives, a person deemed mentally incompetent or who has been committed to a mental institution, dishonorably discharged from the armed services, anyone addicted to a controlled substance, or a person subject to a military protective order. A full list of requirements and disqualifiers can be found in the order.

According to Chapter 6, Section 4 of MCIWest-MCB CamPen Base Regulations order 5000.2, privately-owned weapons and ammunition owned by personnel residing in barracks rooms will be stored in unit armories. Personnel residing in family housing (other than the temporary lodging facilities) may store their registered weapons in their quarters. All privately owned firearms will be stored in a fully encased container (e.g. commercial gun safe, hard plastic case etc.) that is capable of completely enclosing the firearms and being locked with a key or combination lock. All weapons will be fitted with a trigger lock. Ammunition must be stored separately from firearms and in a container capable of being locked with a key or combination lock.

Per the order, firearms include pistols, rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, and bows (crossbow, conventional or compound). Other  weapons that require proper storage  pertains to certain types of knives such as swords and axes designed for offensive or defensive use, and folding knives with blades over six inches long. This does not include kitchen knives or ceremonial swords with unsharpened edges/points.

For more information on the base and region orders, please contact the adjutant’s office at 760-725-5614.