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You might want to consider putting questions concerning HR
218 to bed with the following. I am quoting the law directly, as it
pertains to retirees.
" the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004. Section 3. EXEMPTION
OF QUALIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM STATE LAWS PROHIBITING THE
CARRYING OF CONCEALED FIREARMS.
(a) In general - Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is further
amended by inserting after section 926B the following:
Sec. 926C. The carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law
enforcement officers
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law of any state or any
political subdivision thereof, any individual who is a qualified law
enforcement officer and who is carrying the identification required by
subdivision (d) may carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped
or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, subject to subsection (b).
(b) This section shall not be construed to supercede or limit the laws
of any state that--
(1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the
possession of concealed firearm on their property; or
(2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any state or local
government property, installation, building, base, or park.
(c) As used in this section, the term "qualified retired law enforcement
officer means an individual who--
(1) retired in good standing from service with a public agency as a
law enforcement officer, other than for reasons of mental
instability;
(2) before such retirement, was authorized by law to engage in or
supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or
the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and had
statutory powers of arrest;
(3)(A) before such retirement, was regularly employed as a law
enforcement officer for an aggregate of 15 years, or more; or
(B) retired from service with such agency, after completing any
applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service connected
disability, as determined by such agency;
(4) has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under the retirement plan
of the agency;
(5) during the most recent 12 month period, has met, at the expense
of the individual, the State's standards for training and qualification
for active law enforcement officers to carry firearms;
(6) is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or
hallucinatory drug or substance; and
(7) is not prohibited by Federal law from receiving firearms.
(d) The identification required by this subsection is--
(1) a photographic identification issued by the agency from which the
individual retired from service as a law enforcement officer that
indicates that the individual has, not less than one year before the date
the individual is carrying the concealed firearm, been tested or
otherwise found by the agency to meet the standards established by the
agency for training and qualification for active law enforcement officers to
carry a firearm of the same type as the concealed firearm; or
(2)(A) a photographic identification issued by the agency from which
the individual retired from service as a law enforcement officer; and
(B) a certification issued by the State in which the individual
resides that indicates that the individual has, not less recently than
one year before the date the individual is carrying the concealed firearm,
been tested or otherwise found by the State to meet the standards
established by the State for training and qualification for active law
enforcement officers to carry a firearm of the same type as the
concealed firearm."
Note that Section 1 above refers to those retirees who will
receive the required qualification course from the agency from which they
retired, and Section 2 refers to members who have moved to another state,
and such state offers the required qualification course.
The law also goes on to state that the term firearm does not include
silencers or machine guns. I have marked. in bold, and in some cases
underline, those sections which are of specific interest to retired members.
The law, as quoted, is relatively self explanatory, and should be well
understood by anyone familiar with reading law. Further, it answers most all
of the questions or inquiries that I have seen posted by you.
