There are about four status levels both official and unofficial that I could speak of.
1. Full Time LEO. (explanation not needed) This person under House Resolution 218 needs only his current professional credentails to allow him or her to carry concealed in any of the states in our union. Paid part time officers can be lumped into this category.
2. Reserve (unpaid volunteer) officers. These officers are also protected by HR 218. However if their status is in question (i.e. not current on weapons qual, current with their graduation of a certified LE academy) or outside of the grace period on which they were given to complete this academy, they could be exposing themselves and their departments to liability... nuff said.
3. Retired Officers (both medical and end of tour). These people need only a set of retired credentials and a copy of a CURRENT weapons qual document to be covered by HR 218. No concealed carry permit is needed for them but they can get one for FREE.
4. Just plain old Commission Holders. These guys (and gals) are the best friends of the chiefs and sheriffs. They are not employed by the agency in any fashion and have never been officers or received any training. You see this more in rural areas. The head LEO gives them a set of creds for voting for them and deputizes them. At face value the creds are legal but if a law enforcement agency (or prosecuting attorney) pushed the issue this person could go to jail is some states for concealed carry. These are usually the people that incessantly call the station with reports of reckless drivers and parking violators at Wal Mart.......again nuff said.
None of these instances cover carrying weapons on airlines off duty and not in official capacity.
And I went to The Honorable Larkin Smith's academy in Long Beach during the lovely summer months of 1998. (USM Gulf Coast)
