(Washington D.C.) – Montana Republican United States Senator Tim Sheehy (She-He) on Monday introduced the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act, extending nationwide carry privileges to elite special operations veterans similar to the privileges given to trained and vetted law enforcement officers under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004. North Carolina Republican U.S. Representative Pat Harrigan introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives in April 2026.
This legislation would accomplish the following: Extends 18 U.S.C. 926C so concealed carry privileges apply to “qualified special operators” in addition to qualified retired law enforcement officers, requires yearly, state-standard, active-duty-level firearms qualification at the individual’s expense, plus completion of a DOJ-certified “Concealed Carry Use of Force in Society” course before carrying, makes carry authority contingent on honorable discharge (if applicable), continued status as a qualified special operator, sobriety, continued federal firearm eligibility, and current training; authority ends immediately if any condition fails and does not override any federal firearm restriction. requires DoD and VA to create a joint photo ID program within 180 days and accept service documents in the interim, and directs the Attorney General to ensure law enforcement accepts those documents within 90 days, and clarifies that this act creates no new private right of action.
