[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8332 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8332
To provide concealed carry privileges to qualified special operators.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 16, 2026
Mr. Harrigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed
Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide concealed carry privileges to qualified special operators.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Special Operations Forces Concealed
Carry Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Highly trained special operations personnel who
achieved Expert level military marksmanship qualifications have
demonstrated proficiency with firearms and a commitment to
public service.
(2) Their service should be recognized without undermining
existing safeguards on firearm possession in sensitive places.
SEC. 3. QUALIFIED SPECIAL OPERATOR AUTHORITY.
(a) In General.--Section 926C of title 18, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``or a qualified special operator'' after
``qualified retired law enforcement officer''; and
(2) by inserting ``or, in the case of such a qualified
special operator, the identification required by subsection
(g)'' after ``the identification required by subsection (d)''.
(b) Special Rules for Qualified Special Operators; Definitions.--
Section 926C of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(g) Special Rules for Qualified Special Operators.--
``(1) No annual certification.--An individual authorized to
carry under this section as a qualified special operator shall
not be subject to the annual firearms qualification requirement
of subsection (d)(2)(B).
``(2) Permanent qualification.--
``(A) In general.--The authority under this section
is permanent, contingent on--
``(i) maintaining honorable discharge
status, as applicable;
``(ii) maintaining status as a qualified
special operator; and
``(iii) eligibility under Federal law to
possess a firearm.
``(B) Immediate termination.--The authority under
this section shall terminate immediately if the
individual fails to meet the criteria under
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
subsection exempts a qualified special operator from
any Federal firearm restriction.
``(D) No separate certification.--No separate
certification of firearms training is required for a
qualified special operator.
``(3) Identification for qualified veterans.--
``(A) In general.--To be authorized to carry a
concealed firearm under this section, a qualified
special operator shall carry proof of identity and
qualification. Acceptable forms of identification
include the following:
``(i) A photographic identification issued
by the Department of Defense or the Department
of Veterans Affairs that--
``(I) identifies the individual as
a qualified special operator, and
``(II) confirms the individual's
status as such.
``(ii) A valid government issued
photographic identification and official
documentation of service confirming the
individual's honorable discharge and status as
a qualified special operator.
``(B) Law enforcement request.--An individual
authorized to carry as a qualified special operator
under this section shall present the identification
described in this subsection upon request by law
enforcement.
``(h) Qualified Special Operator.--For purposes of this section,
the term `qualified special operator' means a current or former
military service member with a most recent paygrade of E5-E9, W1-W5 or
O1-O10 with a DD-214 or military service record that confirms service
in one or more of the following roles:
``(1) Service in the United States Army Special Forces as--
``(A) a Special Forces detachment commander;
``(B) a Special Forces detachment warrant officer;
``(C) a Special Forces weapons sergeant;
``(D) an Special Forces engineer sergeant;
``(E) a Special Forces medical sergeant;
``(F) a Special Forces communications sergeant;
``(G) a Special Forces intelligence sergeant; or
``(H) a Special Forces operations sergeant.
``(2) Service in the United States Army 75th Ranger
Regiment as--
``(A) an infantry officer;
``(B) an infantryman;
``(C) an indirect fire infantryman;
``(D) an infantry senior sergeant; or
``(E) a combat medic specialist.
``(3) Service in the United States Navy SEALs as--
``(A) an officer qualified in special warfare; or
``(B) an enlisted member who served as a special
warfare operator.
``(4) Service in the United States Marine Corps as--
``(A) a scout sniper;
``(B) a reconnaissance marine;
``(C) a sniper qualified reconnaissance marine;
``(D) a parachute and combatant diver qualified
reconnaissance marine;
``(E) a special operations officer; or
``(F) a critical skills operator.
``(5) Service in the United States Air Force as--
``(A) a member who served in combat control;
``(B) a member who served in pararescue;
``(C) a member who served in special
reconnaissance;
``(D) a member who served as a tactical air control
party airman; or
``(E) a member who served as a special operations
weather technician.
``(6) Service in the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces
Operational Detachment Delta with enlisted skill qualification
identifier `T'.
''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section heading.--Section 926C of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``and qualified special
operators'' after ``officers'' in the section heading.
(2) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter
44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by amending the
item relating to section 926C to read as follows:
``926C. Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law
enforcement officers and qualified special
operators.''.
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND AUTHORITY.
(a) Issuance of Identification to Veterans.--
(1) Identification program.--Beginning not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly
implement a program to issue the photographic identification
described in section 926C of title 18, United States Code, to
any individual who meets the criteria of a qualified special
operator.
(2) Verification.--The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the application
process uses the records of each Department to verify honorable
discharge and status as a qualified special operator.
(b) Acceptance of Proof Documents.--
(1) Alternate proof.--Prior to the expiration of the 180-
day period described in subsection (a), the Secretary of
Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize valid
service documentation as sufficient proof under section 926C of
title 18, United States Code.
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall provide
guidance to law enforcement agencies nationwide to ensure
acceptance of the requisite official documentation as proof of
authority to carry under Federal law until such time as the
photographic identification of the Department of Defense of the
Department of Veterans Affairs, as applicable, is made
available.
(c) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs are authorized to promulgate regulations and guidance
to carry out this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, including
the form and process for issuing photographic identification cards, any
application procedures, consistent with section 926C of title 18,
United States Code, and communication with Federal, State, and local
law enforcement agencies regarding implementation.
SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
A qualified special operator may exercise the authority to carry a
firearm under section 926C of title 18, United States Code, with the
valid service documentation described in section 4(b)(1).
SEC. 6. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this Act, or any amendments made by it, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act and its amendments, and
their application to other persons or circumstances, shall not be
affected.
SEC. 7. NO PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.
(a) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments
made by this Act shall be construed to create any private right of
action or legal claim, including an action or claim against any
government agency, officer, or private entity for failure to implement
or comply with its terms.
(b) Existing Remedies.--Any remedy for noncompliance or violation
of section 926C of title 18, United States Code, shall be limited to
the existing remedies provided under such section or other applicable
law.
<all>