Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act
Sponsored By: Representative Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would give qualified special operators concealed-carry authority under federal law. It defines who counts as a qualified special operator and sets rules for identification, qualification, and how agencies and police must treat that authority.
Show full summary
- Qualified special operators: Service members and veterans from specified elite units would be able to carry concealed under 18 U.S.C. 926C if they maintain honorable-discharge status where applicable and remain federally eligible to possess firearms. The privilege would not require annual firearms requalification and ends immediately if eligibility lapses.
- Law enforcement: Officers would be required to accept the listed service documents as proof of carry authority when shown. The Attorney General must issue guidance within 90 days to ensure those documents are recognized while photographic IDs are being issued.
- Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs: DoD and VA must verify status and issue photographic identification to eligible individuals within 180 days and create regulations and communications procedures for implementation.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Concealed-carry rules for special operators
If enacted, this bill would let certain current and former special-operations service members carry a concealed firearm under Federal law. You would qualify only if your most recent paygrade was E5–E9, W1–W5, or O1–O10 and your DD‑214 or service record shows one of the listed elite roles. The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments would issue a photographic ID within 180 days, and the Attorney General would tell law enforcement within 90 days to accept official service papers until those IDs are available. You would have to show the DoD/VA photo ID or a government photo ID plus official service documentation when asked. You would not need annual firearms qualification, but the carry authority would end immediately if you lose honorable discharge status (as applicable) or federal eligibility to possess a firearm. The bill would not exempt you from other Federal firearm restrictions and would not require a separate firearms-training certification for qualified special operators.
No new private right to sue
If enacted, the bill would say that nothing in the Act creates a new private right to sue over its rules. You would not be able to file a new lawsuit just because the Act was not followed. Any enforcement or remedy would be limited to existing federal remedies for section 926C and other applicable law.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]
GA • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Crane
AZ • R
Sponsored 4/20/2026
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
DesJarlais
TN • R
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov