No. Qualified off-duty officers may have federal protection for carrying a concealed firearm under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, or LEOSA, but the law does not authorize carrying everywhere. Qualification, identification, the type of firearm, and the location all matter. Active and retired officers use different statutory provisions. [1][2]
Who qualifies?
For active officers, section 926B requires more than a job title. Among its conditions are qualifying law-enforcement authority, agency authorization to carry a firearm, applicable qualification standards, proper photographic identification, and the absence of specified disqualifying circumstances. The person cannot be under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance. [1]
Retired officers must examine section 926C’s separate service, separation, identification, and firearms-qualification requirements. Retirement alone does not establish compliance. Carrying a badge without the required documentation is not a substitute for satisfying the statute. [2]
Where the protection has limits
Both provisions preserve state laws allowing private people or entities to prohibit or restrict firearms on their property. They also preserve state or local government property restrictions of the type specified in the statute. A qualified officer should therefore check the rules for the actual premises, not just the state’s general concealed-carry law. [1][2]
The State Department’s LEOSA guidance also emphasizes that federal laws and regulations remain applicable, including restrictions affecting federal facilities and commercial aircraft. LEOSA is not a general exemption from airport security or federal-building rules. [3]
Separate carry authority from police authority
Permission to carry a concealed firearm does not automatically confer power to make arrests or exercise police authority outside the officer’s jurisdiction. Department policies concerning off-duty conduct, alcohol, credentials, reporting, or approved weapons also require separate review.
- Confirm current qualification under the correct section.
- Carry the identification and qualification records the law requires.
- Check restrictions for the specific building or property.
- Review agency policy before interstate travel.
For related firearm issues, see federal firearm-rights restoration and firearm restrictions under qualifying protective orders. Those disqualification questions must be resolved independently of a claim to LEOSA protection.
Primary sources
- 18 USC 926B: Qualified Active Law Enforcement Officers
- 18 USC 926C: Qualified Retired Law Enforcement Officers
- State Department: LEOSA Frequently Asked Questions
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.