Community Protection Initiative of 1996

Summary: Community Protection Initiative of 1996 - Amends the Federal criminal code to exempt qualified current and former law enforcement officers carrying appropriate written identification from State and local laws prohibiting the carrying of a concealed firearm.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Community Protection Initiative of 
1996''.

SEC. 2. EXEMPTION OF QUALIFIED CURRENT AND FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT 
              OFFICERS FROM STATE LAWS PROHIBITING THE CARRYING OF 
              CONCEALED FIREARMS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 926A the following new section:

``SEC. 926B. CARRYING OF CONCEALED FIREARMS BY QUALIFIED CURRENT AND 
              FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

    ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any 
State or any political subdivision of a State, an individual may carry 
a concealed firearm if that individual is--
            ``(1) a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified 
        former law enforcement officer; and
            ``(2) carrying appropriate written identification.
    ``(b) Effect on Other Laws.--
            ``(1) Common carriers.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to exempt from section 46505(b)(1) of title 49, any--
                    ``(A) qualified law enforcement officer who does 
                not meet the requirements of section 46505(d) of title 
                49; or
                    ``(B) qualified former law enforcement officer.
            ``(2) Federal laws.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to supersede or limit any Federal law or regulation 
        prohibiting or restricting the possession of a firearm on any 
        Federal property, installation, building, base, or park.
            ``(3) State laws.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that--
                    ``(A) grant rights to carry a concealed firearm 
                that are broader than the rights granted under this 
                section;
                    ``(B) permit private persons or entities to 
                prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed 
                firearms on their property; or
                    ``(C) prohibit or restrict the possession of 
                firearms on any State or local government property, 
                installation, building, base, or park.
    ``(c) Definitions.--As used in this section--
            ``(1) the term `appropriate written identification' means, 
        with respect to an individual, a document that--
                    ``(A) was issued to the individual by the public 
                agency with which the individual serves or served as a 
                qualified law enforcement officer; and
                    ``(B) identifies the holder of the document as a 
                current or former officer, agent, or employee of the 
                agency;
            ``(2) the term `qualified law enforcement officer' means an 
        individual authorized by law to engage in or supervise the 
        prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of 
        criminal law;
            ``(3) the term `qualified former law enforcement officer' 
        means an individual who--
                    ``(A) retired from service with a public agency, 
                other than for reasons of mental disability;
                    ``(B) immediately before such retirement, was a 
                qualified law enforcement officer with that public 
                agency;
                    ``(C) has a nonforfeitable right to benefits under 
                the retirement plan of the agency;
                    ``(D) was not separated from service with a public 
                agency due to a disciplinary action by the agency that 
                prevented the carrying of a firearm;
                    ``(E) meets such requirements as have been 
                established by the State in which the individual 
                resides with respect to--
                            ``(i) training in the use of firearms; and
                            ``(ii) carrying a concealed weapon; and
                    ``(F) is not prohibited by Federal law from 
                receiving a firearm;
            ``(4) the term `qualified law enforcement officer' means an 
        officer, agent, or employee of a public agency who--
                    ``(A) is a law enforcement officer;
                    ``(B) is authorized by the agency to carry a 
                firearm in the course of duty;
                    ``(C) is not the subject of a disciplinary action 
                by the agency that prevents the carrying of a firearm; 
                and
                    ``(D) meets such requirements as have been 
                established by the agency with respect to firearms; and
            ``(5) the term `firearm' means any firearm that has, or of 
        which any component has, traveled in interstate or foreign 
        commerce.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 44 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 926A the following new 
item:

``926B. Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified current and former 
                            law enforcement officers.''.