ROTC and Guns

DS had a friend in ROTC who owned a handgun, always kept it in his car though.
 
DS had a friend in ROTC who owned a handgun, always kept it in his car though.

Keeping a firearm in a car generally asks for trouble in urban/suburban areas.

From the SF Chronicle:
"A handful of guns stolen from vehicles in San Francisco and then used to kill people — including a muralist in Oakland, a backpacker in Golden Gate Park, a hiker in Marin and a woman walking on a city pier — have made headlines.



But those high-profile cases represent just a fraction of the guns stolen from cars in a city that has seen a rash of auto burglaries. Through Nov. 20, 57 guns have been stolen from vehicles in San Francisco. That’s up from 48 in all of 2014 and 31 in 2013, according to San Francisco Police Department statistics."


Source:
http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/...from-vehicles-spike-alongside-car-6666110.php
 
Personally, I think it is an excellent idea. I totally agree with MemberLG and others. School isn't the place to store the weapon and he will need training since he hasn't had any. I grew up with firearms in the home and so did all of my children. They learned the proper handling of guns and how to respect them and life. Heck, they all took Hunter's safety in 7th grade during the school day for credit and received a teen hunter's license.

Jackofall this is an opportunity for you and your son to have those conversations. Yes the Army will eventually teach him, but practice and application will be limited. There is nothing wrong with him wanting to learn and become responsible with firearms.

Devil's advocate here: If he is 18, he is legal in some states to buy it without your consent. Just saying..
 
Hi There,

My son is a freshman in college and currently enrolled and participating in ROTC. He is interested in purchasing a gun which I am strongly against (rifle). My son claims it will help him prepare and be familiar with firearms and benefit him in ROTC. My view is a gun has no place in college and opens him up to potential problems if someone gets hurt, possesses it illegally or any issue that can cause legal/safety issues. I also believe ROTC leadership would be against this also due to potential problems.

Any thoughts or advice?

If its legal and in line with school policy, then frankly, its none of his ROTC leadership's business. If your son is serious about owning a firearm, I'd recommend that you suggest he take some firearms safety/marksmanship courses with local instructors. Additionally, I'd recommend that he do some significant research into federal, state and local firearms laws, as well as laws governing the use of lethal force. Unfortunately, I've known a lot of people who've purchased firearms before ever learning how or when to safely/legally use them.

The subject of guns stirs up a lot of emotions, especially concerning campuses. I lived in a dorm that was about 100yds from the spot where Seung-Hui Cho murdered 30 people the previous year. Virginia Tech has always had a strict "no guns" policy. While that policy may make students and parents feel safer...history has proven that in reality, there's no such thing as a "gun free zone".

As a college student with a concealed carry permit, I could legally carry a firearm all day down main street. But if I were to walk across the street and onto campus property I would suddenly become some sort of criminal. If I were truly a criminal bent on doing people harm, I certainly wouldn't be stopped by a "no guns" policy. And if I were a negligent or irresponsible gun owner, I could just as easily have an accident off campus.
 
not some sort of criminal, just a criminal. the law is the law until it isn't.
 
not some sort of criminal, just a criminal. the law is the law until it isn't.

I understand your point, but its actually not that black and white at VT...

There are no federal, state or local laws prohibiting concealed carry on campus there, assuming you possess a valid license. But the school's policy prohibits it, so a student can be expelled or a faculty member can be fired for violating it. That's why I consider it "sort of criminal". Just figured I'd try to clarify, but then again I'm not a lawyer.
 
Everything is a case by case basis. There is a very active Military Skills club at DS's college where they do lots of range time, tactics and all manner of things in the field. The cadets in the club use their own weapons a great deal when appropriate and rubber ducks when not. If the cadet has no personnel weapon, there are weapons made available for that cadet to use for whatever the live fire evolution is. The school has provisions for personnel gun storage. Many of the club members are contracted ROTC.
 
Although not mentioned another point for those thinking of putting off PWP till graduation they also need to think about rules and regs at duty stations and how weapons will be secured for PCS especially if overseas. I have been on bases where our PWs ha to be kept in MP Amory which when you are an MP is a lot easier to get your weapon out. Some we didn't have to secure in Armory until a fellow MP was shoot off base and then even off Base had to bring in and secure weapons. So there may be a rule when s/he checks that changes based on situations/ Threat Level / Public crisis (Ft. Bragg Sniper yes I'm that old) Does your DD/DS have trigger locks/ weapon safes which may be required in a state they could be stationed based on if there are children in family/ with access to home. It isn't always just going to be the campus/base that will decide logistics of private ownership even a PCS move can be an issue if transporting through states that have different levels of access/ steps to fire if do not have a CC for that state. A CC in one state is not always a free reign to transport on that CCP. If you have a mini/wagon or other style PV some states that require weapons of x caliber be in trunk may not even have a waiver for a minivan that does not have a section unable to be accessed by anyone in vehicle. As proud parents are you willing to provide storage / maint for weapons if DD/DS is unable to take to a duty station but does not want to sell. As far as training the mil will teach but somethings are nice to have at least some experiance with even if it is renting firearms/rifles at a gun range familiarization training wouldn't be a horrible pre-send off gift. Helps with those first time learning why they said get it in your shoulder kicks out of the way can save some embarrassment and the occasional bloody nose/bruised to hay-n-back shoulder / and the really want to climb under a rock KOYA and is a great father/mother - daughter/son bonding moment.
 
Reviving an old thread for advice.

My son has been pestering me to allow him to purchase an AR-15 rifle.
He said many of his fellow AROTC cadets have purchased rifles to practice on since they don't get many opportunities for live-fire training.

This could get pretty expensive with the purchase of the rifle, ammunition, and range rental.

Would this purchase be worth it?
 
(a 5.55 mm round will cost about 50 cents, if you buy them bulk, might be able to bring it down to 35 cents or so) .
just by the way you worded that, i can tell that you have absolutely zero knowledge on the subject. First of all the cartridge size of an m4 is 5.56x45mm, not 5.55mm. Second, those prices are nowhere near accurate.
 
ROTC is primarily leadership focused. Yes basic weapons skills starts with a manual of arms for drill and ceremony. Usually an old Springfield rifle without a firing pin. Keep it clean and treat is with respect, and as if it's "locked & Loaded" when handling it, he will be fine. Having your own AR doesn't really add up to much more than bragging rights.

If you live in a less urban environment, (mid-west or mountain states) and the local culture is comfortable, it's fine buy it, keep it clean, and properly store it. If you are in an urban environment; NY City, Chicago, DC, Philly, or SF the local laws are restricting and culture not comfortable with under 21 having ready access to "assault weapons." Safe your coins for a rainy day fund - He can buy it on his own or you can give it to him upon commissioning.

Rest assured "Uncle Sam" will issue, train, and make a young officer so comfortable with weapons and ammunition it will be like a "toothbrush" used every day the rest of your life.
 
just by the way you worded that, i can tell that you have absolutely zero knowledge on the subject. First of all the cartridge size of an m4 is 5.56x45mm, not 5.55mm. Second, those prices are nowhere near accurate.

It’s also a post from nearly 5 years ago.

Stealth_81
 
Reviving an old thread for advice.

My son has been pestering me to allow him to purchase an AR-15 rifle.
He said many of his fellow AROTC cadets have purchased rifles to practice on since they don't get many opportunities for live-fire training.

This could get pretty expensive with the purchase of the rifle, ammunition, and range rental.

Would this purchase be worth it?
My first question would be is your DS familiar with handling a gun and shooting rifles? If not, I'd find a range and rent a .22 rifle and practice. If he has handled guns and shot in the past then he probably already has the skills to be taught to shoot the way the army wants you to shoot. Proper breathing and technique will far exceed practicing with an AR.
I remember DS saying that some of the best scores at weapons qualifications came from people who had never shot before. They didn't have any bad habits.

My 2 cents worth.
 
I appreciate everyone's advice. I agree this probably isn't worth it. His only real experience with guns comes from shotguns. I don't want him to be disadvantaged at the Ranger Challenge or the for his OML ranking but this seems to be too much aggravation and expense for as many times as he will be able to use it.
 
I did AFROTC down in FL....the gunshine state!

Didn’t grow up with guns and never had an interest, but after shooting the M9 at field training I was hooked. Got my CCW, lived off campus, and bought a Glock 19. Been carrying 4 years now, without incident. In college I had a very small cable safe which fit both of my handguns (had 2 by the end of college)....

I’m a fan of having a handgun in college....anything else is too hard to store. I also worked an IT job that took me to work late at night, so it was very reassuring, as well as for driving home for breaks.

My parents initially didn’t see why I wanted a gun, but they are very much fans now, since when I drive all over, it is very reassuring.

My best advice is hold off on the rifle till after college, but get a handgun when you’re 21. Just my advice.
 
I'm a sucker for zombie threads. Lucky for me I wasn't born a fish, cause it woulda been over the first time I saw a worm on a hook.

Just noticed the OP showed about five years ago and lit out three days later, never to be heard from again. You have to wonder how things turned out. His son is probly almost a colonel by now.
 
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