WASHINGTON — Following passage of anti-police legislation in the House last night, Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (R-N.M.) announced today she has cosponsored H.R. 1210, the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act. The bipartisan bill would extend the ability of qualified law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in the interest of public safety.

"While Democrats rush ahead with their bill to defund and disarm police departments, my focus remains on protecting public safety," said Herrell. "We should not be limiting the tools and procedures police officers are able to use in dangerous situations."

Unlike the restrictions on police imposed by the Justice in Policing Act, legislation Herrell supports would expand officers' ability to respond to life or death emergencies.

"The original LEOSA was enacted in 2004," Herrell explained. "Since then, it has been expanded twice to include more officers under broader conditions. This third expansion, which includes most schools, is especially important to keeping our communities and our children safe."

H.R. 1210 expands the LEOSA exemption to allow qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry firearms on state, local, and private property otherwise open to the public; in national parks; of magazines not prohibited by federal law; and in Federal security level I or II public access facilities. This legislation also allows for these qualified professionals to carry on Gun Free School Zones and reforms qualification standards to alleviate undue burdens which currently exist.

"Law enforcement officers regularly put their lives on the line to serve and protect our communities," added Herrell. "Wherever they are, and whether they're in uniform or not, these brave men and women should be able to carry the firearms they're trained to use. That's what the LEOSA is about."

The bill is supported by more than two dozen law enforcement organizations, including the: Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI (SFSAFBI), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service (AFAUSSS), FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Sergeants Benevolent Association of the New York City Police Department (NYPD SBA), National Sheriffs Association (NSA), Port Authority Retired Police Association of New York and New Jersey (PARPA NY-NJ), San Francisco Veteran Police Officers Association (SFVPOA), ATF Association (ATFA), FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA), San Jose Police Officers Association (SJPOA), Air Marshal Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), Association of Federal Narcotics Agents (AFNA), USAF Police Alumni Association (USAFPAA), International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), Retired Police Association of the State of New York's (RPASNY), United States Marshals Service Association, Association of Former New Jersey State Troopers, Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and National District of Attorneys Association.