LEOSA (Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act)

The **Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004** (LEOSA), codified at 18 U.S.C. §§ 926B and 926C, grants qualified active and retired law enforcement officers nationwide concealed-carry authority that preempts most state and local restrictions. Active-duty officers qualify under § 926B and retired officers under § 926C, with slightly different requirements — retired officers must have left in good standing, meet a minimum service threshold, and recertify their handgun qualification annually through an approved program. LEOSA does not override all state and local laws: it does not authorize carry in federal buildings, on aircraft, or in any location where federal law restricts firearms, and state-level "sensitive place" prohibitions generally still apply. LEOSA holders carrying outside their state of residence should carry their LEOSA credentials and their most recent qualification with them.