While I agree that everyone should be able to carry freely in all 50 states, if the law is based on the premise that law enforcement officers somehow face risks that necessitate such a law, corrections officers are at the forefront of that need.
My father-in-law has worked for the MA DOC for years, and some of the run-ins with prior guests of his facility while off duty have ranged from awkward to downright dangerous. Everyone he has dealt with inside is, by definition, a convicted felon. Yeah, police officers run into people they arrest on occasion, but I don't arrest people everyday, and when I do, they're not always bad people or people inclined to commit violence against me, and our interaction might last an hour or two, tops. He deals with dozens of violent criminals all day, every day, he knows their faces, and they know his.
The off-duty risks to the average CO is far more serious than to the average police officer, such that I favor expanding LEOSA for their inclusion notwithstanding the reservations I have about the lack of similar coverage universally. CO's need that protection now, and if it is somehow a political possibility in the way that universal CCW permits will not be any time soon, than I'd favor an amendment.
First off I agree they should have the ability to protect themselves. However, they take the job full well knowing the risks. At the same time what are the odds of these encounters outside of their licensed or authorized carry area? I feel that is a stretch and the risks at that point are not much if any higher than an issue a standard ccw citizen would encounter. This is just yet another grab at special exemptions and skirting around the real issue. How do people not see an issue of layer upon layers of laws. Addressing the real issue and stripping back laws/regulations authorizing these exemptions would go a long way. Once you have a simplified law/regulation reaffirming the rights of the people and restoring those rights will start to solve our issues.
I'm at the point where I'm not willing to compromise our rights anymore. There's always excuses about safety and incase you missed it this is about the "safety" of those COs. what about the rest of the population.