LEOSA Reform Act of 2024 (HR354) proposes major amendments

Many correctional officers are sworn peace officers and enjoy the protection of LEOSA. The Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act (LEOSA), also commonly called “HR 218″ has protected many peace officers from state laws prohibiting concealed carry. This author travels often to gun unfriendly states and has enjoyed the protection LEOSA provides.

In its twenty-year existence, LEOSA has been amended to include military police and other federal officers and reduced the number of years for retired officers to be considered qualified to 10 years. 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 H.R.354 – 118th Congress (2023-2024): LEOSA Reform Act of 2024 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress