Bill Summary
The "Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2026" is legislation designed to allow federal law enforcement officers, including retired officers, to purchase their retired service weapons from the federal agencies that issued them. The key provisions include:
1. **Establishment of a Purchase Program**: Within one year of enactment, the General Services Administrator is required to create a program to facilitate these purchases.
2. **Eligibility Criteria**: Officers can buy their retired firearms within six months of the retirement date and must be in good standing with their employing agency at the time of purchase.
3. **Pricing**: The firearms will be sold at salvage value, which reflects their age and condition, rather than market value, making them more affordable for the officers.
4. **Definitions**: The act clarifies terms such as "Federal law enforcement officer," "firearm," "retired firearm," and "salvage value," ensuring precise understanding of who is eligible and what is being sold.
Overall, this legislation aims to provide a benefit to federal law enforcement officers by allowing them to acquire their service weapons upon retirement, enhancing their personal ownership of these firearms.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2026" could affect people:
1. **Increased Access to Firearms for Retired Officers**: The legislation allows retired federal law enforcement officers to purchase their former service weapons. This could empower retirees by providing them with a familiar and trusted firearm for personal protection or recreational use. It may also enhance their sense of security and connection to their previous profession, as they can maintain ownership of a tool they are trained to use.
2. **Potential for Enhanced Public Safety or Risks**: By enabling retired officers to purchase service weapons, there is a potential for improved public safety if these individuals use their firearms responsibly. However, it could also raise concerns about the risks of firearms falling into the wrong hands if the retired officers do not adhere to responsible ownership practices or if the weapons are not properly secured. This duality could lead to public debate regarding the implications of widespread access to these firearms.
3. **Financial Implications for Federal Agencies and Officers**: The legislation stipulates that retired firearms are sold at their salvage value, which could result in minimal financial return for federal agencies when disposing of these weapons. This approach could affect agency budgets and resource allocation. For retired officers, accessing these firearms at a lower cost could provide financial relief; however, it also places the responsibility of firearm ownership and maintenance back on them, which could entail additional costs in terms of safety training, storage, and insurance.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4117 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4117
To allow Federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service
weapons, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 17, 2026
Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Budd, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, Mr. Graham,
Mr. Justice, Mr. Lankford, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Risch, Mr.
Wicker, and Mr. Cruz) introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To allow Federal law enforcement officers to purchase retired service
weapons, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Law Enforcement Officer
Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. PURCHASE OF RETIRED FIREARMS BY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator of General Services shall establish a
program under which a Federal law enforcement officer may purchase a
retired firearm from the Federal agency that issued the firearm to such
officer.
(b) Limitations.--A Federal law enforcement officer may purchase a
retired firearm under subsection (a) if--
(1) the purchase is made during the six-month period
beginning on the date the firearm was so retired; and
(2) with respect to such purchase, the officer is in good
standing with the Federal agency that employs or employed such
officer.
(c) Cost.--A firearm purchased under this section shall be sold at
the salvage value for such firearm taking into account the age and
condition of the firearm.
(d) Definitions.--In this section--
(1) the term ``Federal law enforcement officer'' has the
meaning given that term in section 115(c)(1) of title 18,
United States Code, and includes a retired Federal law
enforcement officer;
(2) the term ``firearm'' has the meaning given that term in
section 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, excluding any
machinegun (as defined in section 921(a)(24) of such title) not
lawfully possessed before section 922(o) of such title took
effect;
(3) the term ``retired firearm'' means any firearm that has
been declared surplus by the applicable agency; and
(4) the term ``salvage value'' means the value of an asset
after it has become useless to the owner or the amount expected
to be obtained when a fixed asset is disposed of at the end of
its useful life.
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