Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) introduced the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act on April 16, extending permanent, nationwide concealed carry authority to current and former special operations forces under the same federal statute that covers retired law enforcement.
Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act to Extend Concealed Carry Rights to Elite Military Veterans https://t.co/WNBZCsgS09
— Soldier Systems (@soldiersystems) April 26, 2026
The bill amends 18 U.S.C. Section 926C, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), to add a “qualified special operator” category. Eligible units include Army Special Forces, the 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Marine Raiders (MARSOC), Marine Corps Scout Snipers and Reconnaissance Marines, and Air Force Combat Control, Pararescue, Special Reconnaissance, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), and Special Operations Weather. Service at paygrade E-5 and above is required.
“Federal law already trusts retired police officers to carry concealed nationwide. A retired SEAL or Green Beret has no equivalent recognition under federal law,” Harrigan said.
The bill requires no annual requalification. The Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs would have 180 days to issue photographic identification, with the Justice Department directed to issue guidance on credential recognition across jurisdictions.
That provision directly targets LEOSA’s most documented weakness. Since 2004, state and local agencies have repeatedly contested credential recognition, generating federal litigation in New Jersey and Texas. Congress is simultaneously advancing H.R. 2243, the LEOSA Reform Act, to close additional gaps in the existing statute.
Sean Williamson, executive director of Atlas Rescue, a veteran-run counter-trafficking organization, endorsed the bill. “This recognition strengthens our ability to deploy highly trained operators in the fight against human trafficking,” Williamson said.
Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), a former Navy SEAL with 13 years of service, and Mike Collins (R-Ga.) cosponsored the bill on April 20. The legislation was referred to the House Committees on Judiciary, Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs.
