What This Bill Does
This bill allows certain qualified law enforcement officers and retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm in school zones. The bill modifies federal law to make exceptions for these specific officers, allowing them to bring hidden guns into areas where guns are normally prohibited.
Who It Affects
Qualified law enforcement officers (as defined in section 926B of federal law)
Qualified retired law enforcement officers (as defined in section 926C of federal law)
Children and staff in school zones
Key Provisions
Qualified law enforcement officers authorized under section 926B may carry a concealed firearm in a school zone if the firearm stays concealed. (Sec. 2)
Qualified retired law enforcement officers authorized under section 926C may carry a concealed firearm in a school zone if the firearm stays concealed. (Sec. 2)
What Changes
Federal law currently prohibits carrying firearms in school zones. This bill adds two new exceptions allowing qualified active law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in these areas. The bill also allows these officers to discharge (fire) firearms in school zones, which is also currently prohibited. (Sec. 2)
Important Definitions
Not specified in bill text
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1650
To allow certain qualified law enforcement officers and retired law enforce-
ment officers to carry a concealed firearm to protect children in a
school zone.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 2023
Mr. PFLUGER (for himself, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Mr. BACON, and Ms. TENNEY)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary
A BILL
To allow certain qualified law enforcement officers and re-
tired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed fire-
arm to protect children in a school zone.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Police Officers Pro-
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tecting Children Act’’.
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•HR 1650 IH
SEC. 2. CERTAIN QUALIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFI-
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CERS AND RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OF-
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FICERS ALLOWED TO CARRY A CONCEALED
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FIREARM, AND DISCHARGE A FIREARM, IN A
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SCHOOL ZONE.
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Section 922(q) of title 18, United States Code, is
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amended—
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(1) in paragraph (2)(B)—
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(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of clause
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(vi); and
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(B) by redesignating clause (vii) as clause
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(ix) and inserting after clause (vi) the following:
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‘‘(vii) by a qualified law enforcement offi-
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cer (as defined in section 926B) who is author-
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ized under such section to carry a concealed
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firearm, if the firearm is concealed;
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‘‘(viii) by a qualified retired law enforce-
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ment officer (as defined in section 926C) who
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is authorized under such section to carry a con-
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cealed firearm, if the firearm is concealed; or’’;
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and
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(2) in paragraph (3)(B)—
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(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of clause
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(iii);
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(B) by striking the period at the end of
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clause (iv) and inserting a semicolon; and
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•HR 1650 IH
(C) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(v) by a qualified law enforcement officer
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(as defined in section 926B) who is authorized
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under such section to carry a concealed firearm;
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or
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‘‘(vi) by a qualified retired law enforcement
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officer (as defined in section 926C) who is au-
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thorized under such section to carry a concealed
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firearm.’’.
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Æ
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