New Bill Proposed for Special Operations Personnel’s Concealed Carry Rights

Rep. Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina, put forth a bill on Thursday aimed at permitting honorably discharged special operations forces to carry concealed weapons. This information was first reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The proposed legislation, known as the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act, would grant the federal government the authority to allow “qualified special operations personnel”—which includes elite military members whose training and shooting proficiency match or exceed that of retired law enforcement officials—to carry concealed firearms. However, the bill stipulates that there will be restrictions in sensitive areas, maintaining existing safeguards against firearm possession.

“Federal law already allows retired police officers to carry concealed across the country,” Harrigan pointed out. He noted that it seems illogical for retired SEALs and Green Berets, who have honed their firearm skills in some of the most challenging environments, to be excluded from this right under federal law.

“This bill addresses that issue,” the North Carolina representative added. “It doesn’t introduce new rights or undermine any existing safeguards. It simply extends the well-established framework to the warriors who have earned it more than anyone else.”

The proposed law would also create a permanent eligibility status for operators who haven’t carried a firearm for a year, defining requirements for requalification based on their military service in various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act enacted in 2004, police officers are permitted to carry concealed weapons across all 50 states, given they meet certain conditions. The FBI’s Law Enforcement Bulletin indicates the parameters for this entitlement.

As of 2023, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association reports that there are nearly 22.9 million concealed carry permit holders across the nation.