Crapo, Risch Join Cornyn to Introduce Bill to Allow Law Enforcement Officers to Purchase Retired Firearms

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and nine of their Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act, which would allow active and retired federal law enforcement officers in good standing to purchase retired service weapons and firearms:

"Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent each year destroying retired federal service firearms," said Crapo. "This practice effectively means the government pays for the same firearm twice-first when it is purchased, and again when it is destroyed. Allowing federal officers in good standing to purchase their retired service weapons is a common-sense, cost saving measure."

"Destroying a perfectly good firearm when a federal agency no longer needs it is a waste of taxpayer dollars," said Risch. "Allowing law enforcement to purchase these firearms is fiscally responsible and plain commonsense."

"There's no reason the brave men and women in law enforcement who dedicate their lives to preserving public safety should not be able to purchase retired firearms," said Cornyn. "This commonsense legislation would reduce unnecessary waste and save both taxpayers and federal agencies money by allowing officers to exercise their Second Amendment rights."

The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Steve Daines (R-Montana), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Cynthis Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Jim Justice (R-West Virginia), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska).

Representative Russell Fry (R-South Carolina) introduced companion legislation, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last year.

This legislation is also endorsed by the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Narcotics Officers' Associations' Coalition (NNOAC), and National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

Background:

Under current federal regulations, a firearm must be destroyed once it is either retired from use or is no longer needed by an agency. This destruction process costs taxpayers millions of dollars per year. This legislation seeks to alleviate the burden facing taxpayers and gives law enforcement the opportunity to recoup costs by allowing federal agencies to sell retired service weapons to federal law enforcement officers at fair-market value or a discounted price. Recovering this value can in turn offset the cost of new equipment and technology, fund training programs and support other public safety needs. It also honors the Second Amendment rights of current and retired law enforcement officers by allowing them to purchase their firearms.

Specifically, the Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act would direct the Administrator of the General Services Administration to establish a program allowing active and retired federal law enforcement officers in good standing with their employing agency to purchase retired firearms within six months of the weapon's retirement at salvage value. This simple and common-sense measure recognizes the service that law enforcement officers provide to our country, while also delivering cost savings that benefit both taxpayers and federal agencies.

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