Federal Law Enforcement Self-Defense and Protection Act of 2015

To ensure Federal law enforcement officers remain able to ensure their own safety, and the safety of their families, during a covered furlough. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Law Enforcement Self-Defense and Protection Act of 2015 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. 3. Definitions In this Act— (1) the term agency (2) the term covered Federal law enforcement officer (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; (3) the term covered furlough (A) a planned event by an agency during which employees are involuntarily furloughed due to downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, or any budget situation other than a lapse in appropriations; and (B) an event during which employees of an agency are involuntarily furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations; and (4) the term firearm 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.

Summary: Federal Law Enforcement Self-Defense and Protection Act of 2015 Grants covered federal law enforcement officers the same rights to carry a government-issued firearm during a covered furlough as they had before such furlough was in effect. Defines: (1) "covered federal law enforcement officer" to mean any agency employee who has the authority to make arrests or apprehensions for or prosecute violations of federal law and who, on the day before the applicable covered furlough begins, is authorized by the agency to carry a firearm in the course of official duties; and (2) "covered furlough" to mean a planned event by an agency during which employees are involuntarily furloughed due to downsizing, reduced funding, lack of work, or any budget situation other than a lapse in appropriations, and an event during which agency employees are involuntarily furloughed due to a lapse in appropriations.