I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4568 

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

by civilians, with exceptions. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 

Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) 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 ‘‘Responsible Body 

5 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 4568 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 ‘‘§ 932. 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 qualified 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 ‘qualified law enforce21 ment officer’ means any current or former officer (includ22 ing a corrections officer), agent, or employee of the United 

23 States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State author24 ized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detec25 tion, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of the 


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•HR 4568 IH

1 laws of the United States, a State, or a political subdivi2 sion of a State.’’. 

3 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec4 tions for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, 

5 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

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

civilians.’’. 

6 (b) ENHANCED BODY ARMOR DEFINED.—Section 

7 921(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the 

8 following: 

9 ‘‘(36) The term ‘enhanced body armor’ means body 

10 armor, including a helmet or shield, the ballistic resistance 

11 of which meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of 

12 Type III armor, determined using such standard as the 

13 National Institute of Justice has in effect at the time at 

14 which a person purchases, owns, or possesses such 

15 armor.’’. 

16 (c) PENALTIES.—Section 924(a) of such title is 

17 amended by adding at the end the following: 

18 ‘‘(8) Whoever knowingly violates section 932 shall be 

19 fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, 

20 or both.’’. 

Æ 


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