U.S. News
Lawmakers Push Expanded Carry Rights for Elite Troops
Clear Facts
- Representative Pat Harrigan introduced the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act for elite military personnel.
- The legislation extends federal concealed carry authority to active-duty and honorably discharged special operators across all military branches.
- The bill removes annual firearms requalification requirements for these qualified operators who have mastered firearm use.
Republican North Carolina Representative Pat Harrigan introduced a bill on Thursday to permit special operators to carry concealed weapons nationwide. The legislation targets elite personnel whose marksmanship standards frequently exceed those of retired law enforcement officers.
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act aims to provide federal authority to these warriors without compromising existing safeguards in sensitive locations. This framework builds upon established laws that already grant similar privileges to former police officers.
“Federal law already trusts retired police officers to carry concealed nationwide,” Harrigan, a combat-decorated Green Beret, stated.
“That makes sense. But it makes no sense that a retired SEAL or Green Beret, someone who spent a career mastering firearms under the most demanding conditions in the world, has no equivalent recognition under federal law.”
“This bill fixes that,” the North Carolina Republican continued.
“It does not create new rights or weaken any safeguard. It simply extends an existing, proven framework to the warriors who have earned it more than anyone.”
The proposed law would define specific qualifying service roles within the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Current law already allows police officers to carry concealed weapons in all 50 states under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004.
Reports indicate that there were nearly 23 million concealed carry permit holders across the United States as of last year. This new measure seeks to ensure those with the highest level of military training share in these federal recognitions.
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