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 Cali-
fornia, 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Responsible Body 
Armor Possession Act’’. 
SEC. 2. BAN ON PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION 
OF ENHANCED BODY ARMOR BY CIVILIANS; 
EXCEPTIONS. 
(a) BAN.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 44 of title 18, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘§ 932. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of 
enhanced body armor by civilians 
‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be 
unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess en-
hanced body armor. 
‘‘(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to— 
‘‘(1) a purchase, ownership, or possession by or 
under the authority of— 
‘‘(A) the United States or any department 
or agency of the United States; or 
‘‘(B) a State, or a department, agency, or 
political subdivision of a State; 
‘‘(2) a qualified law enforcement officer; or 
‘‘(3) enhanced body armor that was lawfully 
possessed by any person at any time before the date 
this section takes effect. 
‘‘(c) In this section, the term ‘qualified law enforce-
ment officer’ means any current or former officer (includ-
ing a corrections officer), agent, or employee of the United 
States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State author-
ized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detec-
tion, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of the 
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laws of the United States, a State, or a political subdivi-
sion of a State.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘932. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by 
civilians.’’. 
(b) ENHANCED BODY ARMOR DEFINED.—Section 
921(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(36) The term ‘enhanced body armor’ means body 
armor, including a helmet or shield, the ballistic resistance 
of which meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of 
Type III armor, determined using such standard as the 
National Institute of Justice has in effect at the time at 
which a person purchases, owns, or possesses such 
armor.’’. 
(c) PENALTIES.—Section 924(a) of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) Whoever knowingly violates section 932 shall be 
fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years, 
or both.’’. 
Æ 
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