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. 
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 ‘‘Aaron Salter, Jr., Re-
sponsible 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: 
‘‘§ 935. 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 covered 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 ‘covered law enforce-
ment officer’— 
‘‘(1) has the meaning given the term ‘qualified 
law enforcement officer’ in section 926B and the 
term ‘qualified retired law enforcement officer’ in 
section 926C; and 
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‘‘(2) includes corrections officers.’’. 
(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: 
‘‘935. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by 
civilians.’’. 
(b) ENHANCED BODY ARMOR DEFINED.—Section 
921(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘(38) The term ‘enhanced body armor’ means 
body armor, including a helmet or shield, the bal-
listic resistance of which meets or exceeds the bal-
listic 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 title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(9) Whoever knowingly violates section 935 
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more 
than 10 years, or both.’’. 
Æ 
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