Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy
On Offering “The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act”
As An Amendment To “The Protection Of Lawful Commerce In Arms Act,”
S. 1805
February 26, 2004

Law enforcement officers are never “off-duty.”  They are dedicated public servants trained to uphold the law and keep the peace.  To enable law enforcement officers nationwide to be prepared to answer a call to duty no matter where, when or in what form it comes, I am proud to join Senators Campbell, Hatch and Reid to offer the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, S. 253, as it was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as an amendment to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.  Our amendment will permit off-duty and retired law enforcement officers to carry a firearm and be prepared to assist in dangerous situations.

The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, passed last year by the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 18-1, currently enjoys 68 bipartisan cosponsors.  It is strongly supported by the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Association of Police Organizations, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers and the Law Enforcement Alliance of America.

I was honored to work closely on this measure with the former FOP National President, Lt. Steve Young, whose death last year was a sad loss for us all.  Steve was dedicated to this legislation because he understood the importance of having law enforcement officers across the nation armed and prepared whenever and wherever threats to our public safety arise.  I have continued my close work with the FOP and current National President, Major Chuck Canterbury, to make this legislation law.

Community policing and the outstanding work of so many law enforcement officers play a vital role in our crime control efforts.  Unfortunately, during the past few years the downward trend in violent crime ended and violent crime rates have turned upward.  The FBI has reported that crime rose slightly in the first half of 2002, including a 2.3 percent increase in murders.  The preliminary numbers for 2002 follow an increase in crime in 2001 by 2.1 percent, compared with the year before.

There are more than 740,000 sworn law enforcement officers currently serving in the United States.  Since the first recorded police death in 1792, there have been more than 17,000 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.  Over 1,700 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty over the last decade, an average of 170 deaths per year.  Roughly 5 percent of officers who die are killed while taking law enforcement action in an off-duty capacity.  On average, more than 62,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted annually.

Convicted criminals often have long and exacting memories.  A law enforcement officer is a target in uniform and out, active or retired, on-duty or off-duty.  Our bipartisan amendment is designed to establish national measures of uniformity and consistency to permit trained and certified on-duty, off-duty or retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in most situations so that they may respond immediately to crimes across State and other jurisdictional lines, as well as to protect themselves and their families from vindictive criminals.

I look forward to the Senate approving our bipartisan amendment today to make our communities safer and better to protect law enforcement officers and their families.

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