House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Enhance Law Enforcement Officers' Safety

Bill allows federal law enforcement officers to carry their government-issued firearm on and off-dutyWashington, D.C.  – The House Judiciary Committee today approved by voice vote the Federal Law Enforcement Self Defense Protection Act (H.R. 2137) to ensure that officers are able to defend and protect themselves on and off-duty. Because federal law enforcement officers face potentially dangerous situations on a daily basis whether on duty or off-duty, they are permitted to carry their government-issued firearms even when they are not on duty. However, during the government shutdown in 2013, at least three federal agencies prohibited their law enforcement officers from carrying their government-issued firearms or credentials during the furlough. This decision potentially endangered these officers’ lives by putting them at an unnecessary risk and prevented these highly trained officers from being prepared to respond to a critical incident or threat. The Federal Law Enforcement Self Defense Protection Act remedies this problem by allowing all covered federal law enforcement officers to continue to carry their government-issued firearms during a furlough or lapse in federal appropriations. It is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the National Association of Police Organizations. Below are statements from Representative Doug Collins (R-Ga.), the author of H.R. 2137, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) on today’s Committee vote.  Representative Collins: “Federal law enforcement officers face threats whether they’re on duty or off, and even during a lapse in federal appropriations must remain vigilant. To ensure they have the means to respond to the dangerous situations they encounter, we need to clarify the law into a consistent federal policy.  During the 2013 government shutdown, approximately 1,800 officers were forbidden from carrying their firearms. This put them and the public at risk. As we face rising national security threats, officers need to be prepared to respond 24 hours a day. This legislation recognizes that federal officers could be confronted with a threat, and need to have the tools they need to protect themselves and the public.” Chairman Goodlatte: “Every day, federal law enforcement officers put their lives on the line for their country and fellow Americans. As they continually make sacrifices for us, we must ensure that our laws and policies protect them. I thank Representative Doug Collins for his work on behalf of federal law enforcement officers by introducing the Federal Law Enforcement Self Defense Protection Act. This bill ensures that federal law enforcement officers are able to defend and protect themselves while on or off-duty.” ###