Rep. Pat Harrigan's bill grants nationwide concealed carry to special ops vets
Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10), a former Special Forces soldier, dropped the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act this week. The bill extends federal concealed carry authority to both active duty and veteran special operations personnel.
The logic is simple: these men and women receive firearms training that exceeds anything required by any state concealed carry permit. They've proven their judgment under fire in the most dangerous places on earth. Yet when they come home, they navigate a patchwork of state laws that treat them like they've never held a weapon.
"These are the most highly trained warriors on the planet," Harrigan stated. "Their firearms proficiency and marksmanship standards match or exceed those of federal law enforcement officers who already enjoy nationwide carry privileges."
He's right. Federal agents from dozens of agencies already carry concealed anywhere in the country under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. Special operators go through far more rigorous training than most of those agents ever will.
The bill targets personnel whose training meets or exceeds federal law enforcement standards—Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, and Air Force special tactics operators. These aren't weekend warriors. These are the men who hunt terrorists in their sleep.
This legislation represents exactly the kind of targeted 2A expansion that should sail through a Republican Congress. It rewards service, acknowledges expertise, and trusts trained Americans with their constitutional rights.
Anti-gun politicians have spent years claiming they only want to keep guns from "dangerous" people. Well, here's a bill that extends rights to demonstrably responsible, extensively vetted Americans. Let's see them oppose it.
Gun owners should contact their representatives and demand co-sponsorship of the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act. Our elite veterans earned this recognition—now Congress needs to deliver it.