PUBLIC LAW 114–180—JUNE 22, 2016 130 STAT. 445 

Public Law 114–180 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to ensure their own safety, 

and the safety of their families, during a covered furlough. 

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 ‘‘Federal Law Enforcement SelfDefense and Protection Act of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) Too often, Federal law enforcement officers encounter 

potentially violent criminals, placing officers in danger of grave 

physical harm. 

(2) In 2012 alone, 1,857 Federal law enforcement officers 

were assaulted, with 206 sustaining serious injuries. 

(3) From 2008 through 2011, an additional 8,587 Federal 

law enforcement officers were assaulted. 

(4) Federal law enforcement officers remain a target even 

when they are off-duty. Over the past 3 years, 27 law enforcement officers have been killed off-duty. 

(5) It is essential that law enforcement officers are able 

to defend themselves, so they can carry out their critical missions and ensure their own personal safety and the safety 

of their families whether on-duty or off-duty. 

(6) These dangers to law enforcement officers continue 

to exist during a covered furlough. 

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act— 

(1) the term ‘‘agency’’ means each authority of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the 

United States; 

(2) the term ‘‘covered Federal law enforcement officer’’ 

means any individual who— 

(A) is an employee of an agency; 

(B) has the authority to make arrests or apprehensions 

for, or prosecute, violations of Federal law; and 

(C) on the day before the date on which the applicable 

covered furlough begins, is authorized by the agency 

employing the individual to carry a firearm in the course 

of official duties; 

Federal Law 

Enforcement 

Self-Defense 

and Protection 

Act of 2015. 

18 USC 926B 

note. 

June 22, 2016 

[H.R. 2137] 


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130 STAT. 446 PUBLIC LAW 114–180—JUNE 22, 2016 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2137: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114–543 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 

May 10, considered and passed House. 

June 10, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(3) the term ‘‘covered furlough’’ means a planned event 

by an agency during which employees are involuntarily furloughed due to downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, 

or any budget situation including a lapse in appropriations; 

and 

(4) the term ‘‘firearm’’ has the meaning given that term 

in section 921 of title 18, United States Code. 

SEC. 4. PROTECTING FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO 

ARE SUBJECTED TO A COVERED FURLOUGH. 

During a covered furlough, a covered Federal law enforcement 

officer shall have the same rights to carry a firearm issued by 

the Federal Government as if the covered furlough was not in 

effect, including, if authorized on the day before the date on which 

the covered furlough begins, the right to carry a concealed firearm, 

if the sole reason the covered Federal law enforcement officer was 

placed on leave was due to the covered furlough. 

Approved June 22, 2016. 


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