GOP Veteran Harrigan to Deliver Concealed-Carry Rights to Special Forces
Virginia Grace McKinnon /
Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., is working to extend federal concealed-carry authority to elite military personnel—without adding any new rights or weakening preexisting firearm safeguards.
“Federal law already trusts retired police officers to carry concealed nationwide. That makes sense,” Harrigan told The Daily Signal in a statement.
“But it makes no sense that a retired SEAL or Green Beret, someone who spent a career mastering firearms under the most demanding conditions in the world, has no equivalent recognition under federal law,” he continued.
Harrigan is a decorated veteran who served in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces officer, aka Green Beret.
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act defines a “qualified special operator” as an active-duty or honorably discharged servicemember from paygrade E5-E9, W1-W5, or O1-O10.
In the Army, it would include Special Forces, Delta Force, noncommissioned officers, and medic roles. In the Navy, the legislation would qualify SEAL officers and special operators. In the Marine Corps, this would include scout snipers, Marine Raiders, reconnaissance, and special operations forces. From the Air Force, this would include combat control, pararescue, and specific specialists.
All of these “qualified special operators” are elite military personnel well-trained in firearms who do not have federal authority to carry concealed nationwide.
“This bill fixes that. It does not create new rights or weaken any safeguard. It simply extends an existing, proven framework to the warriors who have earned it more than anyone,” Harrigan concluded.
The bill includes guardrails to protect the right Harrigan is working to extend to the “qualified special operators.”
Specifically, the legislation would amend 18 U.S.C. § 926C. It would grant permanent eligibility for qualified operators without requiring annual requalification. The bill would also require veterans to provide proof of identity, including a photo ID issued by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.