Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., a former Army Green Beret who served in Afghanistan, introduced a bill in April to let current and former members of the special operations forces carry concealed weapons across state lines. The bill would grant authorized users national ID cards, and is modeled after a law that lets retired law enforcement carry firearms nationwide. (Rep. Pat Harrigan)
WASHINGTON — A Republican lawmaker from North Carolina has introduced a bill to grant active-duty and former special operations members permission to carry concealed firearms across state lines, similar to rights granted to retired law enforcement.
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act would extend permanent, nationwide authority to active-duty special operators and veterans to possess and carry a hidden firearm in public, according to Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., a former Green Beret and member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The legislation has collected three Republican co-sponsors: Rep. Mike Collins (Georgia), Rep. Elijah Crane (Arizona) and Rep. John McGuire (Virginia).
Crane is a former SEAL who served 13 years in the Navy, with multiple deployments to the Middle East.
McGuire also is a former Navy SEAL with a background as a sniper and sniper instructor during 10 years of military service.
The legislation, which was introduced April 16, was referred to the House Armed Services, Judiciary and Veterans’ Affairs committees for further review.
“Right now, concealed carry laws differ significantly from state to state, and that creates a real problem for veterans and active-duty service members who live, travel, or relocate across the country. A permit that’s valid in one state can be meaningless the moment you cross a state line,” said Lexi Kranich, communications director for Harrigan.
“For special operations forces, that patchwork of laws can expose them to criminal liability simply for trying to protect themselves and their families,” Kranich said.
The bill’s introduction comes as the Trump administration has moved to roll back certain firearms regulations, which include loosening restrictions on stabilizing braces for disabled gun owners and ending a practice by the Department of Veterans Affairs to rescind the gun rights of veterans who have been appointed a third-party fiduciary to manage their benefits.
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act would direct the Defense Department and VA to issue photo ID cards that affirm the right to carry a concealed firearm for a qualified current or former member of special operations.
The legislation is modeled after the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which gives qualified active and retired law enforcement officers permanent, nationwide authority to carry a concealed firearm.
It would amend the statute that currently grants “concealed carry authority” to qualified retired law enforcement to include current and former members of the special operations forces.
There would be no requirement for annual recertification, according to the bill.
“This legislation extends that same framework to both serving and veteran special operators. It doesn’t create new rights or add new carve-outs. It simply asks that these men and women be treated consistently with how federal law already treats retired police,” said Harrigan, who deployed twice to Afghanistan, and is a member of the Special Operations Forces Caucus in Congress.
Harrigan and the other sponsors argue that the marksmanship training of special operations members meets or exceeds that of retired law enforcement.
The bill would grant “concealed carry authority” to service members at pay grade E-5 and above with verified service in designated special operations units, including Army Special Forces; the 75th Ranger Regiment; Delta Force; Navy SEALs; Marine Corps Scout Snipers; Reconnaissance Marines; MARSOC; and Air Force Combat Control, Pararescue, Special Reconnaissance, TACP and Special Operations Weather.
The pay grade requirement reflects the level of demonstrated expertise and sustained service these individuals bring, according to Harrigan’s office.
“Federal law already trusts retired police officers to carry concealed nationwide. That makes sense. But it makes no sense that an active or 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,” Harrigan said.
