Federal Police and concealed carry?

[mark959022]

Can Federal Police officers carry concealed throughout the US? Are certain Federal police unable to do so? Does anyone know if information pertaining to this subject can be found on the web?
Thanks

[Norm357]

I also know of people who work for other federal police departments who cannot even take their pistols home with them at the end of their shift.

Damn those OIGs. :D I hear that is changin in the future though.

[mark959022]

It depends on the federal agency. Some of us can and do, and others cannot. I personally have 24 hour/50-state concealed carry privileges and I can carry everywhere, including on airliners. I also know of people who work for other federal police departments who cannot even take their pistols home with them at the end of their shift.

Not asking you to identify which agency you work for, but can you be more specific as to which agencies allow you to carry anywhere and which agencies require you to leave your pistol at work.

[gijoeyl33]

Certain agencies give their officers carrying privelages in a mile radious from where they work, such as SOME of the USSS UD officers, then there are others such as the USCP who can carry country wide. But lets not forget about the FBI Police Officer who can only carry a gun to and from his job assignement

[superc]

Not asking you to identify which agency you work for, but can you be more specific as to which agencies allow you to carry anywhere and which agencies require you to leave your pistol at work.

He can't. It isn't a hard and fast rule. Some (very few) agencies have it written into the public law that establishes them. US Capital Police may specifically carry a firearm any where in the US. US Park Police are by statute considered police officers in any state (which means most states) in which the US Dept. of the Interior owns property. Amtrak and Conrail Police weren't Federal Officers, then they were, then they weren't again. (Some silly appropriation bill that keeps being reworded every so often.) Deputy US Marshals may carry firearms anywhere in the US. But what about the uniformed guard who has been given a deputation as a Special Deputy US Marshal while guarding the courthouse lobby? Depends on the wording of the paper in his pocket and who issued it. Some Special Deputy papers I have seen have restrictions on them like "may carry firearms only when on duty, and when actually physically on such and such (address) property, but others, equally valid, lack the restrictions and allow full carry. Other groups have nebulous wording in the law that establishes the group which is subject to interpretation. "The administrator may issue," or, "the Director (or Secratary, or Administrator, depending on which authority package you are looking at) may authorize," or, "may carry weapons while in travel status," Some agencies have delegated the Administor's function to Regional Administrators. For some Regional Administrators may means never, for others it means always, or sometimes. Every time a new President is elected the Administrators and Directors change. Usually the policies can be changed too. Some Regional Administrators and Regional Directors have legislative authority to sub delegate. In those cases multiple delegations can be given and each recipient of authorization authority makes his or her own rules for the police, contractors, or other employees under their command. If the Federal law allows the Director of an agency to issue a firearm to whoever he chooses (Title 10 USC Secretary of Defense for instance, or Title 50 USC, the Director of Central Intelligence) the state law prohibiting that issuance means nothing. (Seperation of Powers clause of the US Constitution.) Does issue mean carry? Not always. Sometimes the answer is no. DC's MPD used to be infamous for arresting uniformed Federal Protective Officers and GPO Police who stepped across the building property line to buy a hot dog from the vendor in front. For decades DC maintained that those agencies only authority to have armed police was only found in 40 USC 318, a, b, c and 40 USC 492. Authority to carry a firearm concealed was reserved in DC for those FPOs who had been specifically designated under 40 USC 318d. In the National Capital Region (NCR) GSA (the relevbant agency) agreed with them and gave only those that they specifically wanted to be left alone by the MPD an id card with the specific words may carry a concealed firearm as per Title 40 USC 318d. Very few NCR FPOs had those IDs, but some did. In some other regions the GSA RA authorized all FPOs to carry concealed under 318d. Often the agency puts the authority to carry a firearm concealed on the id card. But not all do. No law requires them to do so. As a matter of fact no specific law requires an ID card be issued with a federal firearm. Some Federal Police apply for and recieve state pistol permits. New York has specifically designated some (but not all) of them as Peace Officers who can carry firearms concealed. Every time their Federal agency goes through a name change their union people have to go begging hat in hand to the NY legislature for an update to the definition of a Peace Officer. It is a mess. If you encounter an armed off duty Federal Officer or other designated person determining if he or she is supposed to be armed in the specific place and time you encountered them is a bureaucratic nightmare. In all honesty, the individual themselves might not know. Back in 1980 when a Joint Cuban Haitian Task Force was created to run the refugee camps large numbers of Federal Police from a variety of agencies and locations were dispatched to the camps during the riots. Many had no idea of their authority or if they had authority. Some brought guns and some didn't. The quick and dirty solution was to tell them to raise their right hand and give each a piece of paper declaring them to be both a Special Deputy US Marshal and a Special Immigration Detention Officer and send them to Barlow Guns outside Ft. Smith to go buy something. Problems for some came after the details when they returned home with their new property if they lived in an Eastern area where the gun ownership was a crime. Anyone know FEMA history? FEMA used to be a GSA offshoot called Federal Preparedness Agency (FPA). FPA ran depots of unused war materials after WWII. Hidden secret places with bunkers containing everything from 16 inch naval shells, howitzer shells and rack after rack of Indian war through WW 2 weaponry. The concept was if we got nuked, the depots would supply war materials to continue fighting until factories could be rebuilt. FPA was charged with guarding the materials, but their guards were given no authority to do so. You had a whole police deparment of guys that armed themselves on their own authority (easiest way to guard this little .38 from the warehouse is to put it on my belt) with what they were guarding. Finally when FEMA was created the guards were allowed guns and given some limited arrest authority. Prior to that when they caught a burglar they called the Sheriff.

[sgtbear111]

It all depends on the issuing authority. and type and scope of duties. Some local or state officers are federal cross-designated; it varies there too. I once held a federal commission for the work I was doing, weapons were not clearly stated, and it depended on who you asked about it, and on what day.

Canada doesnt recognize any US peace officer weapons authority unless there is a transport permit issued to a specific person. A Customs Inspector told me of having this problem when on duty US officers had to transit a part of Canada (by accessble remote area roads) to re-enter the US on official business. I am so glad Canada's gun contol laws and registration have eliminated all crime.

Kalifornia - just looked this up in 12025-12027 PC - active federal officers and CA state peace officers (+retired) are recognized. Out of state active officers, has to be official business, so get a letter from your Chief saying you are on official business. Out of state & off duty, and retired non CA officers are not permitted - period. Retired federal officers MAY be issued a carry pemit if their former federal employer OK's it, they are a CA resident, and if the local Sheriff feels like he/she wants to issue a permit. Some cities & counties in CA only issue permits to politicians, lawyers/judges and actors. Some counties are more agreeable. CA does not recognize any out of state permits or retired LEO ID. Read CA 12020 PC thru 12040 PC very carefully if you intend to travel there with a firearm, esp. recently "banned" articles.

[mcsap]

I just have a nice little bottle of 10% foam I take along for my long trips with all of the crazy regs.

[brianlar13]

Does anyone know, by any chance, what the NSA Police has for a personal carry policy?

[k9girl]

Damn those OIGs. :D I hear that is changin in the future though.

It depends on the state

[Norm357]

It depends on the state

Care to elaborate?

[brianlar13]

NSA Police in Fort Meade, Maryland, does that help?