A retired Army special operations veteran is urging Congress to pass legislation that would grant qualified former special operators the same nationwide concealed carry privileges currently enjoyed by retired law enforcement officers under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA). The effort comes as gun rights advocates see it as a potential pathway toward broader concealed carry reciprocity.
Gavin Glasenapp, who served 20 years with 12 combat deployments in the Army and now works as training operations manager at Delta Defense for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), told Fox News Digital that expanding these carry privileges is long overdue for elite military personnel.
What the Left Is Saying
Gun control advocates have raised concerns about proposals to expand concealed carry rights beyond current law enforcement provisions. Groups such as the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety have argued that broadening civilian access to concealed weapons in public spaces could increase rather than decrease gun violence risks.
Critics contend that the distinction between retired police officers and military veterans is significant, noting that law enforcement training focuses specifically on civilian policing scenarios, de-escalation techniques, and legal standards governing interactions with civilians. Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern that expanding carry privileges without adequate civilian-specific oversight could create unintended safety consequences in communities across the country.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., has previously argued that concealed carry expansion proposals merit careful study of crime statistics before implementation, stating that evidence-based approaches to public safety should guide legislative action rather than assumptions about trained individuals acting as deterrents.
What the Right Is Saying
Second Amendment advocates and gun rights organizations have embraced the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act as a commonsense measure honoring military service. The USCCA has pointed to cases where armed bystanders with concealed carry training have successfully intervened during mass shooting incidents, arguing that well-trained individuals exercising their constitutional right to self-defense enhance public safety.
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., who introduced the Senate version of the bill alongside Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.'s House companion legislation, argued in a statement that special operations personnel possess unparalleled training and judgment developed through a lifetime of service protecting Americans.
"This bill honors that reality by giving qualified special operators the same nationwide concealed carry privileges already afforded to retired law enforcement officers," Sheehy wrote. "Our elite warfighters never stop serving, and this bill ensures the law reflects the trust they've earned through a lifetime of sacrifice."
Glasenapp emphasized that special operations veterans are uniquely selected and trained for high-stakes decision-making under pressure, making them particularly suited to exercise concealed carry privileges responsibly.
"I can think of no better group of people to be equipped to defend themselves and others around them," Glasenapp said. "That's part of our core values here at Delta Defense. We believe every American has the inalienable right to self-defense."
What the Numbers Show
Under current law, LEOSA permits retired federal, state, and local law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms nationwide without regard to state permit requirements, provided they meet annual qualification standards. This provision was enacted in 2004 with bipartisan support.
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act would extend similar privileges to qualified former special operations personnel meeting specific criteria. Sen. Sheehy's Senate version requires annual firearms qualifications at the individual's expense and completion of a Justice Department-certified "Concealed Carry Use of Force in Society" course before carrying.
According to USCCA data, reciprocity requirements for concealed carry permits vary significantly across states, with some recognizing only their own state permits while others honor agreements with multiple other jurisdictions. The most widely used reciprocity tools are mobile applications that track permit recognition across all 50 states and territories.
Studies on armed civilian interventions in mass casualty events show mixed results, though documented cases exist of concealed carry holders successfully stopping active shooter situations. Law enforcement officials in Idaho recently praised an armed bystander who engaged a mass shooter last week using an FN Five-seveN semi-automatic pistol, noting the individual followed established protocols while intervening.
The Bottom Line
The Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act represents a narrowly targeted proposal that would extend existing law enforcement carry privileges to a specific group of highly trained military veterans. Both bills have Republican sponsors, and it remains unclear whether the legislation will advance in the current Congress.
Gun rights advocates view the measure as both an acknowledgment of special operations service and a potential incremental step toward broader concealed carry reciprocity nationwide. Gun control groups continue to advocate for stricter standards on civilian firearm carrying in public spaces regardless of the proponents' military credentials.
The proposal awaits committee consideration in both chambers. Supporters are seeking additional co-sponsors while opponents monitor for any movement toward floor votes.