Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4117
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-30T20:17:28Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to enable federal law enforcement officers, including retirees, to purchase firearms that were previously issued to them once those weapons are retired (declared surplus) by their agency. This provides a structured way for officers to acquire their service weapons at a low cost after the firearms are no longer needed by the government.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Administrator of General Services must create a program allowing eligible officers to buy retired firearms directly from the issuing federal agency.
- Eligibility and Timing: Purchases are limited to the six-month period starting from the date the firearm is retired. The officer must be in good standing with their current or former employing agency.
- Pricing: Firearms are sold at "salvage value," which is the estimated worth of the item based on its age and condition after it is no longer useful to the agency (essentially a scrap or residual value).
- Definitions:
- Federal law enforcement officer: Includes active and retired officers, as defined under U.S. criminal code (18 U.S.C. § 115(c)(1)), covering those with authority to make arrests or carry firearms.
- Firearm: Standard legal definition under U.S. law (18 U.S.C. § 921(a)), but excludes machine guns not legally possessed before a 1986 ban (18 U.S.C. § 922(o)).
- Retired firearm: Any government-issued firearm declared surplus by the agency.
- Salvage value: The low monetary value assigned to an asset at the end of its useful life.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal program for purchasing retired service weapons, which was not previously authorized in a standardized way. Prior to this, surplus firearms from federal agencies were typically auctioned, destroyed, or sold through general government disposal processes without priority for former users. The change creates a specific pathway for law enforcement officers while ensuring sales comply with existing federal firearm restrictions (e.g., excluding prohibited machine guns).
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Simplifies the disposal of surplus firearms by directing sales to eligible officers, potentially reducing administrative costs for auctions or destruction. Agencies like the FBI, DEA, or ATF would handle transfers under General Services Administration oversight.
- On Citizens: Primarily affects federal law enforcement personnel rather than the general public; it does not expand civilian access to firearms but ensures officers can legally retain personal service weapons.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill focuses on domestic federal asset management and firearm laws.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Law Enforcement Officers: Active and retired personnel who issued the firearms, gaining the opportunity to purchase them personally.
- Federal Agencies: Those employing officers (e.g., Department of Justice components, Homeland Security agencies) responsible for declaring firearms surplus and facilitating sales.
- General Services Administration (GSA): Oversees program implementation and ensures compliance with federal property disposal rules.
- Firearm Manufacturers and Sellers: Indirectly, through standardized low-value sales that may reduce broader surplus market competition.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Reinforces compliance with federal firearm statutes by incorporating existing definitions and exclusions (e.g., no sales of banned machine guns), avoiding conflicts with laws like the National Firearms Act. It promotes transparency in government asset disposal under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act.
- Constitutional Implications: None significant; the bill aligns with Second Amendment considerations for law enforcement but does not alter broader civilian rights or due process standards.
- Political Implications: Introduced by a bipartisan group of senators (primarily Republicans), it signals support for law enforcement benefits, potentially appealing to pro-police constituencies without broader gun control debates. The one-year implementation timeline allows for regulatory adjustments.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (11)
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-03-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Federal Law Enforcement Officer Service Weapon Purchase Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (3 pages)