Implementing the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act Improvement Act of 2010
as per the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services

This federal law exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from local and State prohibitions on the carrying of concealed firearms while off-duty across state lines.

Who is Eligible to Carry Concealed Firearms Under this Law?

Qualified active or retired law enforcement officer (and others who are not specifically retired law enforcement officers) who is carrying the proper identification and has qualified with the agency from which retired or according to regulations of the state of current residence, may carry a concealed firearm across state lines.  However, private citizens are allowed to prohibit the possession of a concealed firearm on their property. A State can restrict the possession of a concealed weapon on its property (i.e. park, school, building, etc.).

Therefore, to carry a concealed firearm under LEOSA, a retired  USSS SA must have:

Are you a “Qualified Law Enforcement Officer?”

A “qualified law enforcement officer” means an employee of a governmental agency who:

1. is authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and has statutory powers of arrest;

2. is authorized by the agency to carry a firearm;

3. is not the subject of any disciplinary action by the agency;

4. meets standards established by the agency which require the employee to regularly qualify in the use of a firearm;

5. is not under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance;

6. is not prohibited by Federal law from receiving a firearm.

A Qualified Retired Law Enforcement Officer is an individual who:

1. retired in good standing from service with a public agency as a law enforcement officer for reasons other than mental insanity;

2. was a USSS SA (before retirement was authorized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person for, any violation of law, and had statutory powers of arrest)

3. is not otherwise prohibited from owning or carrying firearms,

4. is not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

5. is in possession a valid current retired USSS I.D.

6. have qualified within a year according to regulations of the state in which the agent currently resides.

Valid USSS ID

Complete instructions will be sent immediately upon registering successfully for a firearms qualification course.

Initially, you must submit an SSF 4037 to USSS.  Then, you must notify the USSS of your participation annually via the SSF 4073B. 

Registration functions are administered by SA Sam Kolb, email address sam.kolb@usss.dhs.gov, or mail it to him.

USSS keeps a record of all active USSS QRLEO participants and to be authorized, you must be on the record currently.

If you do not possess a  USSS Firearms Identification Card, you must schedule a personal appearance for a digital photograph.  You may telephone him at the WFO Ops Center at (202) 406-8800 to schedule an  appointment.

*Your continued eligibility" certification attests that you have not become excluded from eligibility under 18 USC 926C and 922(g) and (n) - (exclusions relating to felony convictions, fugitive status, domestic violence, mental health adjudications, etc,)

It is also important to repeat that your production of a USSS Employee Firearms ID Card does not in itself authorize you to carry a firearm under LEOSA.

Every criminal justice officer required to carry a firearm in the performance of duty shall qualify annually using the applicable firearms course set forth below.

(We use the "Virginia 50 Round Tactical Qualification Course for Revolvers and Semi-automatic Pistols" as our choice of the courses specified by Virginia DCJS.)

Annual range qualification shall include a review of issues / policy relating to:

1. weapons safety,

2. nomenclature,

3. maintenance and

4. use of force

Additionally we discuss liability, avoiding criminal and civil actions, developed case law, and personal detection, prevention, and attack management tactics.