Proposal for Concealed Carry for Special Ops Veterans

A retired Army special operations veteran is advocating for Congress to grant concealed carry privileges to qualified former special operators across the nation. These privileges are currently enjoyed by retired U.S. law enforcement officers. The veteran argues that elite troops are especially skilled in self-protection and safeguarding others.

Gavin Glasenapp, who served 20 years with 12 combat deployments in the Army, stated to Fox News Digital that this change is necessary. He supports the Special Operations Forces Concealed Carry Act, which was introduced by Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., and earlier this year by Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.

Glasenapp, serving as the training operations manager at Delta Defense for the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), emphasized that these individuals are highly trained. He believes they are ideal candidates to defend themselves and others, aligning with the USCCA’s core value that every American has the right to self-defense.

Second Amendment advocates claim that having more trained individuals with firearms can help make the country safer. Although there are obstacles in Congress concerning nationwide concealed carry reciprocity, expanding the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) to include special ops veterans could pave the way for broader changes.

“Our elite warfighters never stop serving, and this bill ensures the law reflects the trust they’ve earned through a lifetime of sacrifice,” said Sen. Tim Sheehy.

The Senate and House bills differ slightly. Sheehy’s Senate bill requires annual state-standard active-duty-level firearms qualifications and completion of a Justice Department-certified “Concealed Carry Use of Force in Society” course. Harrigan’s House bill focuses on broadening LEOSA standards without extra training certifications for special operators.

Glasenapp underlines the unique skills and continuous training of special operations forces. Their proficiency with firearms is foundational and regularly reinforced. The veteran also points out their experience dealing with varying laws while operating in different jurisdictions worldwide, which equips them to handle diverse situations effectively.

Glasenapp expressed confidence in the judgment and skills of special operators to handle the expanded protections responsibly. He hopes for the proposal to pass and be integrated into U.S. law.