Qualified retired and off-duty law enforcement officers would receive extended concealed carry privileges for their firearms under a bipartisan bill recently offered by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE).
The congressman on March 21 sponsored the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Reform Act (LEOSA) of 2025, H.R. 2243, to remove existing prohibitions and allow trained professionals to respond quickly to emergencies that occur in any facility open to the general public, such as shopping malls, school zones, mass transit, etc.
“The bipartisan LEOSA Reform Act offers real solutions to address threats such as terrorism and mass shootings by ensuring that our retired and off-duty law enforcement officers can exercise their right to concealed carry — no matter where they live or visit,” Rep. Bacon said. “These measured changes will make existing law stronger and more workable for those who seek its benefits while maintaining the rigorous standards that currently apply.”
H.R. 2243 has 10 original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Mark Amodei (R-NV), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Buddy Carter (R-GA), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).
“Many of our retired law enforcement officers are ready to continue serving our community but are unable to due to current law,” said Rep. Cuellar, the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 2243. “This bipartisan legislation will fix the issues that our nation’s off-duty officers and retired cops face while concealed carrying. I remain steadfast in my support for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect our homes, neighborhoods, businesses and communities.”
If enacted, the bill would amend title 18 of the U.S. Code to improve the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, and allow a qualified retired or current officer to carry a concealed firearm for extended periods if he or she has met the standards for qualification in firearms training during the most recent period of 12 months or, at the option of the state in which the individual resides, a greater number of months, not exceeding 36 months, according to the bill’s text.
The bill has garnered support from the sheriffs of three counties in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, as well as several law enforcement agencies, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Air Marshal Association, the FBI Agents Association, the International Union of Police Associations, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and the National Association of Police Organizations, among others.