H.R. 8332

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8332 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8332

To provide concealed carry privileges to qualified special operators.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 16, 2026

Mr. Harrigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Armed 
Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide concealed carry privileges to qualified special operators.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Special Operations Forces Concealed 
Carry Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Highly trained special operations personnel who 
achieved Expert level military marksmanship qualifications have 
demonstrated proficiency with firearms and a commitment to 
public service.
(2) Their service should be recognized without undermining 
existing safeguards on firearm possession in sensitive places.

SEC. 3. QUALIFIED SPECIAL OPERATOR AUTHORITY.

(a) In General.--Section 926C of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) by inserting ``or a qualified special operator'' after 
``qualified retired law enforcement officer''; and
(2) by inserting ``or, in the case of such a qualified 
special operator, the identification required by subsection 
(g)'' after ``the identification required by subsection (d)''.
(b) Special Rules for Qualified Special Operators; Definitions.--
Section 926C of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
``(g) Special Rules for Qualified Special Operators.--
``(1) No annual certification.--An individual authorized to 
carry under this section as a qualified special operator shall 
not be subject to the annual firearms qualification requirement 
of subsection (d)(2)(B).
``(2) Permanent qualification.--
``(A) In general.--The authority under this section 
is permanent, contingent on--
``(i) maintaining honorable discharge 
status, as applicable;
``(ii) maintaining status as a qualified 
special operator; and
``(iii) eligibility under Federal law to 
possess a firearm.
``(B) Immediate termination.--The authority under 
this section shall terminate immediately if the 
individual fails to meet the criteria under 
subparagraph (A).
``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this 
subsection exempts a qualified special operator from 
any Federal firearm restriction.
``(D) No separate certification.--No separate 
certification of firearms training is required for a 
qualified special operator.
``(3) Identification for qualified veterans.--
``(A) In general.--To be authorized to carry a 
concealed firearm under this section, a qualified 
special operator shall carry proof of identity and 
qualification. Acceptable forms of identification 
include the following:
``(i) A photographic identification issued 
by the Department of Defense or the Department 
of Veterans Affairs that--
``(I) identifies the individual as 
a qualified special operator, and
``(II) confirms the individual's 
status as such.
``(ii) A valid government issued 
photographic identification and official 
documentation of service confirming the 
individual's honorable discharge and status as 
a qualified special operator.
``(B) Law enforcement request.--An individual 
authorized to carry as a qualified special operator 
under this section shall present the identification 
described in this subsection upon request by law 
enforcement.
``(h) Qualified Special Operator.--For purposes of this section, 
the term `qualified special operator' means a current or former 
military service member with a most recent paygrade of E5-E9, W1-W5 or 
O1-O10 with a DD-214 or military service record that confirms service 
in one or more of the following roles:
``(1) Service in the United States Army Special Forces as--
``(A) a Special Forces detachment commander;
``(B) a Special Forces detachment warrant officer;
``(C) a Special Forces weapons sergeant;
``(D) an Special Forces engineer sergeant;
``(E) a Special Forces medical sergeant;
``(F) a Special Forces communications sergeant;
``(G) a Special Forces intelligence sergeant; or
``(H) a Special Forces operations sergeant.
``(2) Service in the United States Army 75th Ranger 
Regiment as--
``(A) an infantry officer;
``(B) an infantryman;
``(C) an indirect fire infantryman;
``(D) an infantry senior sergeant; or
``(E) a combat medic specialist.
``(3) Service in the United States Navy SEALs as--
``(A) an officer qualified in special warfare; or
``(B) an enlisted member who served as a special 
warfare operator.
``(4) Service in the United States Marine Corps as--
``(A) a scout sniper;
``(B) a reconnaissance marine;
``(C) a sniper qualified reconnaissance marine;
``(D) a parachute and combatant diver qualified 
reconnaissance marine;
``(E) a special operations officer; or
``(F) a critical skills operator.
``(5) Service in the United States Air Force as--
``(A) a member who served in combat control;
``(B) a member who served in pararescue;
``(C) a member who served in special 
reconnaissance;
``(D) a member who served as a tactical air control 
party airman; or
``(E) a member who served as a special operations 
weather technician.
``(6) Service in the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces 
Operational Detachment Delta with enlisted skill qualification 
identifier `T'.
''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Section heading.--Section 926C of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ``and qualified special 
operators'' after ``officers'' in the section heading.
(2) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
44 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by amending the 
item relating to section 926C to read as follows:

``926C. Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law 
enforcement officers and qualified special 
operators.''.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION AND AUTHORITY.

(a) Issuance of Identification to Veterans.--
(1) Identification program.--Beginning not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 
implement a program to issue the photographic identification 
described in section 926C of title 18, United States Code, to 
any individual who meets the criteria of a qualified special 
operator.
(2) Verification.--The Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the application 
process uses the records of each Department to verify honorable 
discharge and status as a qualified special operator.
(b) Acceptance of Proof Documents.--
(1) Alternate proof.--Prior to the expiration of the 180-
day period described in subsection (a), the Secretary of 
Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall recognize valid 
service documentation as sufficient proof under section 926C of 
title 18, United States Code.
(2) Guidance.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall provide 
guidance to law enforcement agencies nationwide to ensure 
acceptance of the requisite official documentation as proof of 
authority to carry under Federal law until such time as the 
photographic identification of the Department of Defense of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, as applicable, is made 
available.
(c) Regulations.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs are authorized to promulgate regulations and guidance 
to carry out this Act, and the amendments made by this Act, including 
the form and process for issuing photographic identification cards, any 
application procedures, consistent with section 926C of title 18, 
United States Code, and communication with Federal, State, and local 
law enforcement agencies regarding implementation.

SEC. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.

A qualified special operator may exercise the authority to carry a 
firearm under section 926C of title 18, United States Code, with the 
valid service documentation described in section 4(b)(1).

SEC. 6. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or any amendments made by it, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act and its amendments, and 
their application to other persons or circumstances, shall not be 
affected.

SEC. 7. NO PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.

(a) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments 
made by this Act shall be construed to create any private right of 
action or legal claim, including an action or claim against any 
government agency, officer, or private entity for failure to implement 
or comply with its terms.
(b) Existing Remedies.--Any remedy for noncompliance or violation 
of section 926C of title 18, United States Code, shall be limited to 
the existing remedies provided under such section or other applicable 
law.
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