I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8388 

To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor 

by civilians, with exceptions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 14, 2024 

Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MORELLE, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. 

JOHNSON of Georgia, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of 

enhanced body armor by civilians, with exceptions. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Aaron Salter, Jr., Re5 sponsible Body Armor Possession Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. BAN ON PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION 

7 OF ENHANCED BODY ARMOR BY CIVILIANS; 

8 EXCEPTIONS. 

9 (a) BAN.— 


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•HR 8388 IH

1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 44 of title 18, 

2 United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

3 end the following: 

4 ‘‘§ 935. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of 

5 enhanced body armor by civilians 

6 ‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be 

7 unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess en8 hanced body armor. 

9 ‘‘(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to— 

10 ‘‘(1) a purchase, ownership, or possession by or 

11 under the authority of— 

12 ‘‘(A) the United States or any department 

13 or agency of the United States; or 

14 ‘‘(B) a State, or a department, agency, or 

15 political subdivision of a State; 

16 ‘‘(2) a covered law enforcement officer; or 

17 ‘‘(3) enhanced body armor that was lawfully 

18 possessed by any person at any time before the date 

19 this section takes effect. 

20 ‘‘(c) In this section, the term ‘covered law enforce21 ment officer’— 

22 ‘‘(1) has the meaning given the term ‘qualified 

23 law enforcement officer’ in section 926B and the 

24 term ‘qualified retired law enforcement officer’ in 

25 section 926C; and 


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•HR 8388 IH

1 ‘‘(2) includes corrections officers.’’. 

2 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec3 tions for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, 

4 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘935. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by 

civilians.’’. 

5 (b) ENHANCED BODY ARMOR DEFINED.—Section 

6 921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by add7 ing at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(38) The term ‘enhanced body armor’ means 

9 body armor, including a helmet or shield, the bal10 listic resistance of which meets or exceeds the bal11 listic performance of Type III armor, determined 

12 using such standard as the National Institute of 

13 Justice has in effect at the time at which a person 

14 purchases, owns, or possesses such armor.’’. 

15 (c) PENALTIES.—Section 924(a) of title 18, United 

16 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol17 lowing: 

18 ‘‘(9) Whoever knowingly violates section 935 

19 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 

20 than 10 years, or both.’’. 

Æ 


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