Off-duty or retired LEO needs no permit???

[-Bristol-]

My friend, a retired Captian from the Sherrif's Department, thinks he can carry legally in most every state and that open carry is something only Texas has. Various other things tells me he has not kept up with recent changes. How does all this work for retired and off-duty?

Edited November 19, 2011 by -Bristol-

[kb4ns]

Google HR 218 or Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. As long as he's qualified annually and meets the other requirements to fall under that federal law, he can legally carry a concealed weapon almost anywhere in the USA. See the law for the particulars.

[DaveTN]

Retired Officers can carry anywhere including states like Illinois that don’t allow carry.

It’s called the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

But he has to meet the requirements of the department he retired from, and have a Department ID.

[wcsc12]

My friend, a retired Captian from the Sherrif's Department, thinks he can carry legally in most every state and that open carry is something only Texas has. Various other things tells me he has not kept up with recent changes. How that all this work for retired and off-duty?

Wow...big benefits to retiring as a cop.

[Oh Shoot]

...and that open carry is something only Texas has. ...

Texas does not allow civilian open carry, even for permit holders. Though I'm don't know the specifics of LEOSA, I rather doubt there's a provision in there that would allow that for a non-uniformed unattached LEO from another state - but willing to be proved wrong.

- OS

[Fallguy]

As others have said LEOSA, so he can carry in any state or territory. Although he does have to have an ID that shows he is a retired LEO.

However they are still subject to state laws that allow private property owners to prohibit carry and laws that prohibit carry on state or local government property.

TX is one of the few states that does not allow OC...I would say that also goes for LEOs carrying under LEOSA. But as OS said...I could be wrong...

[Pain103]

LEOSA provides for concealed carry only. Regardless of any state laws you may carry concealed as long as you meet the criteria and such.

[UncleJak]

My dad is retired LEO. He carries under the HR218. Every year he still has to qualify with the sheriff. I figure in a year or two he probably won't even be able to pass the range test. He is getting older and last year he barley scraped by. I guess that is why they have to re-qualify every year. It is actually kind of sad....He used to be able to out shoot me left handed one eye closed...

[Oh Shoot]

My dad is retired LEO. He carries under the HR218. Every year he still has to qualify with the sheriff. I figure in a year or two he probably won't even be able to pass the range test. He is getting older and last year he barley scraped by. I guess that is why they have to re-qualify every year. It is actually kind of sad....He used to be able to out shoot me left handed one eye closed...

Tell him to go ahead and get an HCP as backup while he can still shoot. He'll never have to re-qualify.

Then again, maybe there's no rush. Sheriff's qualification probably much harder - he should be able to pass the HCP shooting part as long as he can see well enough to walk in the door and hold a gun without dropping it.

- OS

[Fallguy]

Tell him to go ahead and get an HCP as backup while he can still shoot. He'll never have to re-qualify.

Then again, maybe there's no rush. Sheriff's qualification probably much harder - he should be able to pass the HCP shooting part as long as he can see well enough to walk in the door and hold a gun without dropping it.

- OS

Yeah...it seems several LEOs go ahead and get HCPs as well to have them for the "future" or also so as to be able to carry weapons not covered under dept policy when off-duty.

Also doesn't hurt that current POST Certifed (or certifed in the last 5 years) LEOs don't have to take safety course...

[Wrangler]

I have my HCP but being a LEO means I have to carry every where. It is in our general policy. The reason is because even though when we are off duty, we might need to go on-duty at a moments notice. I have to carry my badge and commission card everywhere. You never know when the SHTF.

[Patton]

Yeah...it seems several LEOs go ahead and get HCPs as well to have them for the "future" or also so as to be able to carry weapons not covered under dept policy when off-duty.

Also doesn't hurt that current POST Certifed (or certifed in the last 5 years) LEOs don't have to take safety course...

I have mine also so I don't always have to have a badge also. I believe somewhere in HR 218 it also states to have a badge.

I think my department would not stand behind me if I used a weapon off duty I wasn't qualified with.

Also my DMV had their head up there a** and couldn't figure out what POST means even after faxing my certifcate and calling a lot of people.

[JReedEsq]

There were at least three LEOs in my HCP class the reasons stated by Fallguy. It wasn't a large class but I planned to go with a couple of law school friends so it seemed like everyone in the class was either a cop, a lawyer, or a woman over 40.

Edited November 22, 2011 by JReedEsq

[ki4otd]

Also, don't forget about our handy state law for LEO's - 39-17-1350 Law enforcement officers permitted to carry firearms