Political Quotes

“I rise this evening in strong support of the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvements Act of 2010. In 2004 the Congress approved the bipartisan Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, which allows qualified retired and current law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm anywhere in the United States. The law requires that retired officers maintain appropriate firearms training and be current in that training. Since enactment of the law, qualified retired officers have faced varying and inconsistent certification procedures from State to State, and that complicates their ability to carry a firearm and be properly certified to do so. The bill that is before the House tonight was introduced in the other body by the Judiciary Committee chairman, Senator Leahy, and it was introduced here in the House by my Virginia colleague (Mr. Forbes). It modernizes the existing law in these very necessary respects. It will reduce from 15 to 10 the number of years a law enforcement officer must serve to be eligible to carry a firearm as a retiree with full privileges under the existing law. The 15-year requirement in current law inappropriately excludes many qualified retirees who go into law enforcement as a second career, often following their first career in the Armed Forces. It will give retired officers more flexibility in obtaining certification to carry a firearm, while still maintaining rigorous standards for retirees who apply for this benefit.”