Police Officers Protecting Children Act
The Police Officers Protecting Children Act would amend 18 U.S.C. 922(q) to expand which individuals are exempt from the general prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone. Specifically, it would allow certain qualified law enforcement officers (active) and qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry a concealed firearm in a school zone, so long as they are authorized to carry concealed firearms under the definitions in 18 U.S.C. 926B (qualified law enforcement officers) and 18 U.S.C. 926C (qualified retired law enforcement officers). The bill preserves the concealed-carry requirement and does not explicitly add permission to discharge a firearm. It is titled the “Police Officers Protecting Children Act,” and as introduced in the Senate in April 2025, it would apply to those recognized as qualified officers under the cited sections.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The bill may be cited as the “Police Officers Protecting Children Act.”
- 2Scope of amendment: It adds new exemptions to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone (18 U.S.C. 922(q)), specifically for:
- 3- A qualified law enforcement officer, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 926B, who is authorized to carry a concealed firearm, if the firearm is concealed.
- 4- A qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 926C, who is authorized to carry a concealed firearm, if the firearm is concealed.
- 5- Similarly, the bill adds corresponding language in the related portion of the statute to cover both active and retired officers carrying a concealed firearm in a school zone.
- 6Authorization standard: The exempt carry must be authorized under the relevant sections (926B for active officers; 926C for retired officers).
- 7Concealed carry focus: The added authorities require the firearm to be concealed.
- 8Discharge language: The text provided focuses on concealed-carry authorization; it does not explicitly add a federal provision granting the authority to discharge a firearm in a school zone.
- 9Legislative status and process: Introduced in the Senate (April 4, 2025) by Mr. Sheehy and Mr. Justice; referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Sponsor(s) are listed as “for himself and Mr. Justice,” with no other sponsors identified in the excerpt.