[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Warner, 
        Mr. Simpson, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. D'Amato, and Mr. Faircloth):
  S. 2010. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to exempt 
qualified current and former law enforcement officers from State laws 
prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on the Judiciary.


              the community protection initiative of 1996

  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I am introducing the community 
protection initiative of 1996. This bill will exempt current and former 
law enforcement officers from State and local laws prohibiting the 
carrying of concealed firearms. In so doing, this bill will adopt a 
clear, uniform rule in place of the various State and local laws that 
are on the books today.
  This bill has the support of many law enforcement organizations and 
individuals, including the Law Enforcement Alliance of America, 
Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police 
Organizations, National Sheriffs Association, National Troopers 
Coalition, Southern Police Benevolent Association, National Law 
Enforcement Council, the Salt Lake City police chief, the Salt Lake 
County sheriff, and the Utah Highway Patrol Association.
  This bill will prove to be a useful addition to our laws in several 
ways. This bill will enhance public safety. It will do so by 
potentially placing thousands of additional police officers on the 
streets of America--at no additional cost to the public. Law 
enforcement officers are highly trained professionals. Their classroom 
teaching, as well as their experience in the field, are the most 
valuable weapons that they possess. But all of that skill and 
experience will be of little benefit for a police officer if he cannot 
prevent A crime from occurring because he is unable to carry the 
firearm his community has authorized him to carry as part of his job. 
This bill puts more police on the street, at no cost to the taxpayer.
  That result alone is a valuable one. But there is more. The bill will 
help law enforcement officers protect themselves and their families 
when they travel interstate. By itself, that is a valuable benefit. Any 
one police officer may make scores of arrests throughout his career, 
and an officer may not always remember the face of every suspect that 
he apprehends. Many criminals, however, remember. They remember the 
face of the judge, the face of the prosecutor, and, most importantly, 
the face of the arresting officer. This bill enables police to protect 
themselves and their families in the face of these long memories. 
Currently, police officers can protect themselves when they remain 
within their jurisdictions on-duty. If those jurisdictions permit, 
officers can carry their firearms off-duty. This bill would allow each 
qualified police officer to travel out of State without being at risk 
of criminal assault.

  A firearm is an important tool in a battle with a criminal, 
especially an armed one. A firearm in the hands of a trained police 
officer, when off duty, will make our streets safer. For private 
citizens, a firearm is best compared to a fire extinguisher, because 
each one is a piece of emergency, lifesaving equipment. But for police 
officers, a firearm is a necessary tool of his profession.
  We expect that police officers will intervene to prevent crimes from 
occurring. No, we demand that police officers carry out that 
responsibility. That is why we train them in law enforcement; and that 
is why we give them a badge; that is why we give them a gun. This bill 
will ensure that we do not disarm the police just because they have 
traveled interstate.
  There are more than 600,000 State and local law enforcement officers 
in more than 17,000 police agencies. This bill would allow those 
officers, and many of their retired colleagues, to carry firearms when 
they travel out of State. That puts each of those officers on the 
streets in the service of law enforcement in this Nation.
  To be sure, only some police officers will take advantage of this 
provision. But we know that there will be some officers who prevent 
some crimes and who prevent some people from becoming victims.
  At the same time, this bill achieves those benefits in a careful 
manner. It does not allow unqualified officer to carry firearms 
interstate. Rather, it requires current police officers to be in good 
standing to take advantage of the benefits of this bill. The bill also 
does not allow all retired police officers to carry firearms. Before a 
retired police officer can carry a concealed firearm under this bill, 
the bill requires that the retired officer be authorized by his or her 
State of residence to carry a concealed firearm within that State. 
Finally, this bill does not authorize the carrying of firearms on 
aircraft.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis in 
moving this legislation. In the House, Representative Cunningham of 
California has introduced a similar measure.
  Together, we can bring about passage of a bill that will protect the 
public, our Nation's law enforcement officers, and their families.
                                 ______