By: State Rep. Pauline Wendzel

This term, I’ve had the pleasure of attending retirement parties for police officers in our district. I presented the retirees with tributes thanking them for their many years of faithful service to our communities. Events like these are a great chance to take stock and reflect on all that our law enforcement does to keep our neighborhoods safe. The risks that they have taken when putting on their uniform every day of their careers has earned my unwavering support: even after they’ve retired.

That is why I am proud to introduce a new bill that aims to exempt retired law enforcement officers and veterans from redundant firearms training and waive fees for licensing and fingerprinting when applying for a Concealed Pistol License.

Retired law enforcement officers have undergone extensive firearms training and have had pistols on their hips for decades, it is unnecessary to subject them to redundant training that merely duplicates the skills they have already mastered, let alone to nickel and dime them for more money to attend said classes.

This bill will also contribute to public safety. Removing barriers that would prevent retired law enforcement from carrying ensures that our communities can benefit from their continued presence as responsible and trained individuals who already have a vested interest in the safety and security of our neighborhoods.

After speaking with retired officers and veterans in our communities, something was made clear to me. The spirit of service and duty does not go away when you take off the uniform. These heroes, who have already given so much, still want to give more. I’m looking to get red tape out of the way and let them do what they do best: protect our communities.

As always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or 517-373-1799.