About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 (June 14, 2006)

handle is hein.crs/crsajgu0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22456 June 14, 2006 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 Anthony Vieux Law Clerk American Law Division Summary The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (H.R. 218) was signed into law on July 22, 2004 (P.L. 108-277). The act amends the federal criminal code in order to authorize a qualified law enforcement officer, carrying photographic governmental agency identification, to carry a concealed fireann, notwithstanding any state or local law. This report summarizes the act's provisions dealing with the carrying of concealed weapons by qualified law enforcement officers. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (H.R. 218) exempts qualified current and former law enforcement officers employed by local, state, or federal law enforcement agencies from state laws prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms.' The act does not supersede federal law that governs the carrying of firearms onto aircraft, federal buildings, federal property, and national parks, nor does it limit the laws of any states that permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property, nor does it supersede state laws that prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any state or local government property, installation, building, base, or park. The House passed H.R. 218 on June 23, 2004. The Senate passed it, without amendment by unanimous consent, on July 7, 2004. President Bush signed the bill into law, P.L. 108-277, on July 22, 2004. Prior to this act, states controlled within their borders who may carry concealed weapons and when law enforcement officers may carry firearms. Before this legislation was enacted, a state decided whether to allow out-of-state officers to carry a concealed weapon within its borders. Prior federal law allowed active, but not retired, federal law enforcement officers to carry a concealed weapon anywhere within the jurisdiction of the United States. However, prior law did not allow active or retired state or local law enforcement officers to carry a concealed weapon unless permitted under state law. H.R. 218 overrides contrary state laws and permits retired and active officers (whether state, local, or federal) to carry a concealed weapon anywhere within the United States. According to the House report, this act is designed to protect officers and their families from criminals they have arrested and to allow qualified officers, whether on-duty or off- Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress 1 This report was prepared under the general supervision of Marie Morris, Legislative Attorney.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most