KenpoTex
Senior Master
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Grand Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, hailed today's unanimous passage of H.R. 218, the "Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act," in the United States Senate.
"Today's victory in the Senate was a long time in coming," said Canterbury. "For more than a decade this legislation has been the number one legislative priority of our nation's rank-and-file officers and of the Fraternal Order of Police. The Senate's unanimous vote on this bill, and the passage in the House by voice vote, demonstrate the truth of what we have said all along: this is a common sense bill that will make our nation, our neighborhoods, and our law enforcement officers safer."
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), was passed by the House in June. It exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State and local prohibitions with respect to the carrying of concealed firearms. It had previously passed the House on a 372- 53 vote in 1999 and, in March of this year, passed the Senate on a 91-8 vote when it was offered as an amendment to another bill.
"Every time this legislation has been considered by the House or the Senate it has passed," Canterbury said. "And President Bush, who is a strong supporter of this legislation and was a tremendous help to us in getting this bill through the House last month, is eager to sign the bill."
The Senate passed H.R. 218 without amendment, so the measure will now go to the White House to be signed into law by President Bush. Once signed, active and retired law enforcement officers will be able to carry their firearms even when traveling outside their own jurisdictions.
"Our victory in the Senate today owes a great deal to the leadership of Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the sponsor of the Senate companion bill to H.R. 218." Canterbury said. "The membership of the F.O.P. is particularly grateful to the Judiciary Committee's Ranking Member, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, the bill's chief cosponsor, without whom we would not have been able to get this bill off the ground. The F.O.P. is fortunate indeed to have such strong advocates in the United States Senate."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 318,000 members
"Today's victory in the Senate was a long time in coming," said Canterbury. "For more than a decade this legislation has been the number one legislative priority of our nation's rank-and-file officers and of the Fraternal Order of Police. The Senate's unanimous vote on this bill, and the passage in the House by voice vote, demonstrate the truth of what we have said all along: this is a common sense bill that will make our nation, our neighborhoods, and our law enforcement officers safer."
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.), was passed by the House in June. It exempts qualified active and retired law enforcement officers from State and local prohibitions with respect to the carrying of concealed firearms. It had previously passed the House on a 372- 53 vote in 1999 and, in March of this year, passed the Senate on a 91-8 vote when it was offered as an amendment to another bill.
"Every time this legislation has been considered by the House or the Senate it has passed," Canterbury said. "And President Bush, who is a strong supporter of this legislation and was a tremendous help to us in getting this bill through the House last month, is eager to sign the bill."
The Senate passed H.R. 218 without amendment, so the measure will now go to the White House to be signed into law by President Bush. Once signed, active and retired law enforcement officers will be able to carry their firearms even when traveling outside their own jurisdictions.
"Our victory in the Senate today owes a great deal to the leadership of Senator Orrin G. Hatch, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the sponsor of the Senate companion bill to H.R. 218." Canterbury said. "The membership of the F.O.P. is particularly grateful to the Judiciary Committee's Ranking Member, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, the bill's chief cosponsor, without whom we would not have been able to get this bill off the ground. The F.O.P. is fortunate indeed to have such strong advocates in the United States Senate."
The Fraternal Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the United States, with more than 318,000 members
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