Fedweek

The Senate has passed a measure (HR-2137) previously passed by the House to allow certain federal law enforcement officers the same rights to carry a government-issued firearm during a furlough as they had before such furlough was in effect. The bill is a reaction to several agencies that forbid certain officers from carrying firearms or their credentials during the 2013 partial government shutdown. Sponsors argue that those restrictions put the officers at risk and made them unable to respond to an incident or threat.