Dear Senator Kennedy,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for S. 1610, the “LEOSA Reform Act,” which makes minor but important changes to the existing Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) statute (18 USC 926B and 926C) to improve the safety of our nation’s qualified active and retired law enforcement.
It is important to understand that this legislation does not expand the universe of qualified active and retired law enforcement officers carrying under the auspices of the LEOSA exemption. It simply harmonizes State and Federal laws with respect to National Parks and the Gun-Free Schools Zones Act by treating State-issued concealed carry permit holders and qualified active and retired officers in the same way. Similarly, your legislation would make clear that the LEOSA exemption also applies to “common or contract carriers” as well as areas open to the public without restriction.
This bipartisan bill would extend the LEOSA exemption to magazines so that officers are not exposed to legal jeopardy in States that have limitations on the number of rounds or capacity of a magazine. It would also permit States, acting affirmatively, to extend the period between training certifications for qualified retired law enforcement officers from 12 months to up to 36 months. Finally, the bill would allow any active or retired law enforcement officer carrying under the LEOSA to lawfully access U.S. Post Offices, Social Security Administration Offices, Veterans Affairs Offices, or similar Federal facilities.
This legislation reflects many of the FOP’s recommendations to ensure that qualified active and retired officers do not inadvertently find themselves in legal jeopardy because of the current statute’s lack of clarity. On behalf of the more than 356,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you for your leadership and commitment to law enforcement and we look forward to working with you to build support for this important bill. If you need any additional information or support, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President