Twenty years after LEOSA was passed, the newly proposed LEOSA Reform Act of 2024 aims to expand the rights of qualified law enforcement officers and retirees
The current LEOSA Reform Act of 2024 bill was introduced by Rep (R-NE) Don Bacon. This amendment removes certain restrictions for firearms possession in previously restricted areas, removes magazine capacity restrictions and extends qualification periods as noted below.
Exceptions for LEOSA-qualified individuals:
- Allows carry firearms within National Parks: That is within the federal building and facilities within the National Parks.
- Conforms the Gun Free Schools Act of 1990 with LEOSA, allowing possession in a Gun-Free School Zone for LEOSA qualified individuals. This includes school grounds, stadiums, ballfields, etc.
- Allows possession on Public Transportation, Buses, Ferrys, Trains, etc.
- Allows passion In Security level 1 or II civilian public access facility, e.g. Post offices, SSA buildings, Public and common areas of Courthouses. (The security level is set by facility’s security agency: DHS, FPS and GSA).
This law will:
- Remove magazine capacity restrictions imposed by states. However, when purchasing a magazine from an out of state dealer and having it shipped to you may be problematic with magazine limits set by states such as WA, CA, CO, IL, DE, CO, NY, VA, MY, NJ, CN, RI and MA.
- Allow a state to extend the qualification period from 12 months to 36 months.
- Extend qualification by any certified law enforcement firearms instructor in your state.
This law does not supersede/limit a state’s law to restrict possession on state or local property or access to private property. It does not prohibit private parties from excluding possession in private/non-public areas, like businesses.
Of course, many states are constitutional carry states, and some restrictions not limited by existing federal law may not apply or they may be more restrictive.
Officers should always consult their state’s concealed carry laws for areas not otherwise covered under LEOSA. For more information and to follow the progress of the bill see www.congress.gov/118th-congress/house-bill/354.
Dan Phillips retired after serving 23 years as a military criminal investigator and 16 years in the security and counterintelligence fields for the federal service. Today he is a security manager for a major defense contractor.
Dan serves as the LEOSA program chair for the Washington state Fraternal Order of Police. He is a regular contributor to Police1 and has also written in Police Chief magazine.
