Security
Marchers and viewers attending the Bataan Memorial Death March should be prepared for increased security and possible delays prior to the event.
Motorists are asked to have their
vehicle pass prominently displayed in their windshield and to have
their IDs ready when they are entering the post. Passengers must
also have their IDs ready. Personnel who do not have a picture ID
will experience lengthy delays outside the gate while their
information is completely checked. Motorists should not be surprised
if they or their vehicle(s) are searched. "Everyone is subject to
search." Marchers should plan on arriving at the gates as early as 3
a.m. and no later than 4:30 a.m. Motorists coming in from the El
Paso gate are asked not to come in after 4:45 a.m., or they will run
the risk of being stuck in traffic. Martin Luther King Avenue will
be closed to all traffic at 5:30 a.m.
Except for emergency vehicles, the Las Cruces gate will be closed to
outbound range traffic between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the day of the
march. Motorists should make arrangements to avoid being delayed on
post during these hours.
Law Enforcement has selected two primary designated parking areas and several backup areas. Marchers will receive their vehicle visitor’s pass during online registration. It is important that the pass not be displayed should marchers leave the installation. The pass should be put away in a safe place until they return to post to help prevent participants from experiencing loss of the pass or becoming a possible target of any type. When entering the installation, please have your pass prominently displayed for security personnel. There will be multiple security parking teams present to assist participants when they arrive at the pre-designated parking areas off of Headquarters Avenue. Motorists coming in through the Las Cruces and El Paso gates the day of the event will be guided by traffic control personnel and some areas will be closed to through traffic. These traffic control personnel will guide motorists all the way to the parking area to optimize traffic flow.
There will be several law enforcement agencies that will be supporting this year’s event. The agencies will be assigned to zones along the March Route and around the venue area. All unattended packs are subject to search, therefore, we request that all participants maintain positive control of any items and packs brought on the installation.
Bataan participants outside of the
local area traveling with concealed weapons permits may enter White
Sands Missile Range if they register the weapons and comply with New
Mexico law and White Sands Missile Range procedures regarding
transportation and storage requirements. Participants with concealed
weapons permits may pre-register weapons with Law Enforcement
Division, Directorate of Emergency Services or at the Las Cruces
Gate Reception Center. Privately owned weapons may not be carried on
WSMR, even if the owner has a concealed carry permit.
These weapons must be secured in a locked safe in the
billeting room, or stored / transported in the owner's vehicle IAW
the requirements listed below.
Pre-registration is the preferred method of registration due
to the anticipated large numbers of participants. Registration forms
and information may be requested from Department of the Army, White
Sands Missile Range, Attn: Directorate of Emergency Services, Law
Enforcement Division, Police Records and Administration (Phyllis
Quintana), White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002 or at the Las Cruces
Gate Reception Center.
Police Records point of contact information is Phyllis Quintana,
575-678-3317,
phyllis.quintana@conus.army.mil.
Note: These instructions should be with the registration form and at
the gate. (Ms Quintana from DES Police Records will do this for
pre-registration and Rick Koehler will have these instructions at
the gate).
Privately owned firearms must be registered with the Directorate of
Emergency Services prior to or upon arrival at WSMR.
Transportation of Privately-owned Firearms. Privately-owned firearms
which are transported in a vehicle on WSMR must be unloaded and
placed into a compartment of the vehicle that is inaccessible to the
driver and passengers of the vehicle. Ammunition for the firearms
must be transported in a compartment or area separate from the
weapon. Exception:
If no such "inaccessible" area exists, such as in a pickup
truck, sport utility vehicle, or van, the firearms will be unloaded
and transported in the passenger compartment, out of sight, with
ammunition in a separate area of the vehicle.
All privately-owned firearms which are brought onto the WSMR
installation must be registered with the Directorate of Emergency
Services, Law Enforcement Division, through the pre-registration
method or at the Visitor Reception Center located at the Las Cruces
Gate. Registration of the firearms must be accomplished prior to
arrival or upon arrival at WSMR Reception Center, Las Cruces Gate
only.
Privately-owned firearms must be transported in accordance with New
Mexico State laws when off WSMR, and in accordance with Federal and
State laws and this regulation when on WSMR. Weapons may not be
loaded while on WSMR.
