Legis Daily

Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-2993| Senate 
| Updated: 10/9/2025
Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Cosponsors (7)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)James C. Justice (Republican)Josh Hawley (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025," seeks to expand the authority to carry concealed firearms to include current and retired prosecutors and federal judges. It achieves this by amending sections 926B and 926C of title 18, United States Code, which currently grant such authority only to qualified law enforcement officers. The legislation aims to provide these legal professionals with enhanced personal security by allowing them to carry concealed firearms under specific conditions. For current prosecutors and federal judges , the bill mandates that they possess appropriate photographic identification and a certification demonstrating they meet active duty firearm qualification standards. Prosecutors may obtain this certification from their employing agency or a state-certified instructor, while federal judges must obtain it from a state or certified instructor. The bill defines specific criteria for who qualifies as a "qualified prosecutor" or "qualified Federal judge," including being free from disciplinary action or impeachment inquiries and not being federally prohibited from owning a firearm. Similarly, retired prosecutors and federal judges would also gain this authority, provided they meet stringent requirements. These include having separated from service in good standing, serving a minimum of 10 years (or separating due to a service-connected disability), and annually meeting active duty firearm qualification standards at their own expense. They must also not be deemed mentally unqualified or federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The legislation further clarifies the definition of a "firearm" for these purposes, including ammunition but explicitly excluding machineguns, firearm silencers, and destructive devices. To ensure proper implementation, the Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of United States Courts are authorized to promulgate any necessary regulations.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4445
Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2020
Oct 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Oct 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4445
    Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2020


  • October 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-2993| Senate 
| Updated: 10/9/2025
This bill, titled the "Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2025," seeks to expand the authority to carry concealed firearms to include current and retired prosecutors and federal judges. It achieves this by amending sections 926B and 926C of title 18, United States Code, which currently grant such authority only to qualified law enforcement officers. The legislation aims to provide these legal professionals with enhanced personal security by allowing them to carry concealed firearms under specific conditions. For current prosecutors and federal judges , the bill mandates that they possess appropriate photographic identification and a certification demonstrating they meet active duty firearm qualification standards. Prosecutors may obtain this certification from their employing agency or a state-certified instructor, while federal judges must obtain it from a state or certified instructor. The bill defines specific criteria for who qualifies as a "qualified prosecutor" or "qualified Federal judge," including being free from disciplinary action or impeachment inquiries and not being federally prohibited from owning a firearm. Similarly, retired prosecutors and federal judges would also gain this authority, provided they meet stringent requirements. These include having separated from service in good standing, serving a minimum of 10 years (or separating due to a service-connected disability), and annually meeting active duty firearm qualification standards at their own expense. They must also not be deemed mentally unqualified or federally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The legislation further clarifies the definition of a "firearm" for these purposes, including ammunition but explicitly excluding machineguns, firearm silencers, and destructive devices. To ensure proper implementation, the Attorney General and the Director of the Administrative Office of United States Courts are authorized to promulgate any necessary regulations.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-4445
Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2020
Oct 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Oct 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-4445
    Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act of 2020


  • October 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Tom Cotton

Tom Cotton

Republican Senator

Arkansas

Cosponsors (7)
Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)James C. Justice (Republican)Josh Hawley (Republican)Ted Budd (Republican)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted