[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 87 (Thursday, June 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6805-S6806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 3621. A bill to permit certain local law enforcement officers to 
carry firearms on aircraft; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce legislation I 
originally introduced last Congress, a bill to make air travel safer by 
allowing local law enforcement to carry their firearms on aircrafts, 
the Safer Skies Act of 2006.
  This legislation is needed to increase the safety of our airplanes, 
as well as to make it easier for local law enforcement to travel across 
the county. Whether on official travel or personal travel, Federal law 
enforcement officers are allowed to carry firearms with them throughout 
their flights. The legislation I am introducing today would extend the 
same privilege--and responsibility--to local law enforcement officers.
  Ever since the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred on September 
11, 2001, we have seen how our local emergency responders, including 
local law enforcement officers, play a vital role in protecting not 
just their local communities, but the entire Nation. Hurricanes Katrina 
and Rita are the most recent examples. We think of local law 
enforcement officers as our Nation's first responders, but they are 
also the Nation's early preventers. They are the first to identify 
local crimes that could turn into national attacks. They are the first 
to report suspicious behavior that could thwart a future terrorist 
attack. And they are the ones who can keep our nation safe by stopping 
a terrorist threat before it becomes an attack. Their eyes, ears and 
experience are critical to our national security, and that includes on 
airplanes.
  Hundreds, thousands of police officers use the Nation's airlines each 
day. Authorizing certain qualified local police officers to carry their 
weapons onto planes, whether on or off duty, will give airline personal 
access to additional assistance if needed. The unique, long-term 
training in handling various disturbances including hostage situations, 
barricaded subjects, drunken persons and the mentally ill will provide 
added security to our Nation's flights and enhance passenger safety. 
Authorizing qualified local officers to carry their duty weapons on 
aircrafts is a way to be proactive in enhancing the security of our 
Nation's air travel. It will also have a deterrent effect on potential 
hijackers, knowing their may be more armed law enforcement on any given 
flight.
  A terrorist attack in any city is a national concern. Local law 
enforcement officers are a crucial element of the plan to protect our 
Nation. I want to thank the Las Vegas Police Protective Association and 
the National Association of Police Organizations for their support of 
this important legislation. In particular, I would like to thank 
Detective David Kallas, Executive Director Las Vegas Police Protective 
Association, Detectives Chris Collins and Michelle Jotz, and John Dean 
Harper for their input and advice.
  With their help, we have produced legislation that will keep our 
country safe, by giving law enforcement the standing they deserve as 
they continue to protect our hometowns and the nation. I ask unanimous 
consent that both this letter of support from the National Association 
of Police Organizations and the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3621

       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 ``Safer Skies Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO CARRY 
                   FIREARMS ON AIRCRAFT.

       (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:

     ``Sec. 44926. Authority of local law enforcement officers to 
       carry firearms on aircraft

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of the Safer Skies Act of 2006, the Under 
     Secretary of Transportation for Security shall prescribe

[[Page S6806]]

     regulations that permit qualified local law enforcement 
     officers to carry accessible weapons while onboard an 
     aircraft to the same extent and subject to the same limits as 
     Federal law enforcement officers are permitted under section 
     1544.219 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
     successor regulation.
       ``(b) Qualified Local Law Enforcement Officer.--In this 
     section, the term `qualified local law enforcement officer' 
     means any full-time State or local enforcement officer, 
     whether or not on official travel, who--
       ``(1) is a direct employee of a government agency that--
       ``(A) employs more than 400 employees; and
       ``(B) is accredited by a nationally recognized law 
     enforcement accreditation program;
       ``(2) is armed in accordance with an agency-wide policy 
     established by the employing agency by directive or policy 
     statement; and
       ``(3) otherwise complies with the requirements relating to 
     Federal law enforcement officers.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     449 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
     after the item related to section 44925 the following:

``Sec. 44926. Authority of local law enforcement officers to carry 
              firearms on aircraft.''.
                                  ____

                                           National Association of


                                   Police Organizations, Inc.,

                                    Washington, DC, June 29, 2006.
     Hon. Harry Reid,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Reid: On behalf of the National Association of 
     Police Organizations (NAPO), representing 238,000 rank-and-
     file police officers from across the United States, I would 
     like thank you for introducing the ``Safer Skies Act of 
     2006,'' and advise you of our support for the legislation. If 
     enacted, this legislation would provide additional protection 
     to those flying our nation's skies by permitting qualified 
     local law enforcement officers to carry accessible weapons 
     while onboard an aircraft.
       NAPO was actively involved in fighting for the passage of 
     the ``Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act,'' which rightly 
     allows off-duty and retired police officers to carry their 
     firearms for the protection of themselves, their families and 
     our nation's communities. NAPO stands by this law and firmly 
     believes that allowing an officer the right to carry an 
     accessible weapon on a plane is a natural and appropriate 
     extension of this law.
       ``Safer Skies Act of 2006'' is necessary and beneficial for 
     the general welfare of the public, especially after the 
     events of September 11, 2001. NAPO supports the bill and 
     looks forward to working with you to expand its coverage in 
     the future. Ultimately, we feel it is important to include 
     all of our nation's law enforcement officers in order to 
     provide greater protection to the officers and our nation's 
     citizens flying the American skies. If you have any 
     questions, please feel free to contact me, or NAPO's 
     Legislative Assistant, Andrea Mournighan.
           Sincerely,
                                               William J. Johnson,
                                               Executive Director.
                                 ______