I drive to a VA hospital from out of town but the VA property has posted that it is illegal to possess a firearm on Federal property, does that mean it can’t be locked in a lock box in my vehicle.
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Welcome to the community. From everything I have read it is not legal to have a firearm on VA property. My suggestion is let your conscience be your guide.
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18 U.S. Code § 930 - Possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in Federal facilities
(a)Except as provided in subsection (d), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal facility (other than a Federal court facility), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(b)Whoever, with intent that a firearm or other dangerous weapon be used in the commission of a crime, knowingly possesses or causes to be present such firearm or dangerous weapon in a Federal facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.
(c)A person who kills any person in the course of a violation of subsection (a) or (b), or in the course of an attack on a Federal facility involving the use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be punished as provided in sections 1111, 1112, 1113, and 1117.
(d)Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
(1)the lawful performance of official duties by an officer, agent, or employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision thereof, who is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of law;
(2)the possession of a firearm or other dangerous weapon by a Federal official or a member of the Armed Forces if such possession is authorized by law; or
(3)the lawful carrying of firearms or other dangerous weapons in a Federal facility incident to hunting or other lawful purposes.
(e)
(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), whoever knowingly possesses or causes to be present a firearm or other dangerous weapon in a Federal court facility, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
(2)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to conduct which is described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d).
(f)Nothing in this section limits the power of a court of the United States to punish for contempt or to promulgate rules or orders regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the possession of weapons within any building housing such court or any of its proceedings, or upon any grounds appurtenant to such building.
(g)As used in this section:
(1)The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.
(2)The term “dangerous weapon” means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than 2½ inches in length.
(3)The term “Federal court facility” means the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, offices of the court clerks, the United States attorney, and the United States marshal, probation and parole offices, and adjoining corridors of any court of the United States.
(h)Notice of the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal facility, and notice of subsection (e) shall be posted conspicuously at each public entrance to each Federal court facility, and no person shall be convicted of an offense under subsection (a) or (e) with respect to a Federal facility if such notice is not so posted at such facility, unless such person had actual notice of subsection (a) or (e), as the case may be.
Everything depends on interpretation.. but for me “possession” is the same as “keeping in lock box in my car” … so the answer would be you cannot keep the firearm in your car in that case**.
But this is my interpretation only.
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Welcome Gary565.
Per the attached links – in FL, if the hospital provides mental health care, it reads “not legal” to carry, not even concealed. Mental Health care can even be outpatient.
Some, not all hospitals have lock boxes inside for patients, for their firearms, one can call ahead of time - to their head nurse manager and security supervisor for instructions. If you do, call several days in advance as they may need to get back to you.
Source:
https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/fl-gun-laws/#loc_res
Not sure if this is correct but had read the VA is a federal property:
“Federal property: Be cautious if the hospital is a federal facility, such as a VA hospital. In those cases, federal law prohibits firearms on the property, and this prohibition extends to the parking lot”
Maybe call the specific VA Hospital department of Security to ask about their "parking lot " policy, but ask for a Supervisor.
In another USCCA string, one person mentioned he has to park his car outside of his employer’s lot, despite some laws prohibit employers from such policies. If you do that, please use extra care not to get mugged or robbed by parking so far.
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Interesting. Looks like good to go.
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I don’t think it allows regular civilians to use (3) in our favor.
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@Gary565 Welcome to the community! VA Hospital is like any other Federal property, “GUN FREE ZONE”. If not far, but within walking distance (for those who can walk) park outside of the property in other close-by business or public parking structure and walk to their appointment (keeping their hardware safely locked in the vehicle). But always with concern (
is the vehicle safe from being broken into 
) Possibly a surveilling criminal watching in the background parking areas outside the perimeter of the facility looking for individuals not driving into the hospital parking lot and parking elsewhere, and the walking to the hospital which will give indication to these scumbags that there must be a gun in that car with intention to break into the vehicle. Just some of the obstacles legal gunowners face. You’ll be dammed if do and dammed if you don’t kind of thing. Guns for me but not for thee. Rules/laws DON’T apply to criminals, only to law-abiding citizens.
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It applies if the VA hospital is in the FOREST and it’s hunting season. Check with your local Game and Fish Dept. for details.
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Thx God I do not hunt, so no “hunting exceptions” apply to me. 
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This is a good question; I always assumed that I could lock it in my car safe and store it there. I drive through the worse areas there are in the Seattle area. Most of all the news reports of shootings are through the areas I drive. Though the times of these instances are late at night and I go during the day, it still makes one wonder about what could happen. I know of others that do the same as I do but that does not make it right.
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I called the VA police, and they told me that it was illegal to have a firearm on federal property even if it was in a locked storage and inside the vehicle. I go thru bad areas myself so that really sucks. Although I have locked my gun up for years unknowingly.
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Start here
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- Welcome!
- Check with a local Firearms Attorney.
- My interpretation: “Technically”, you are correct. The VA extends the prohibition to parking lot and “Green areas.” Another technicality would be “possession” versus “transporting.” “Transporting”, is legal, I believe. Meaning if the firearm is locked up prior to entry onto VA grounds. Of course, you couldn’t unlock it until after you are off the property.
- You are legally “safer” by not pursuing the issue.
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Yeah we have our 2A rights. If you keep your gun locked in your car who is going to know. Legal because it is your right and safer because you have your gun. Don’t do anything stupid or illegal and you should be good to go.
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