Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act
Bill: H.R.8147 | Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace (D-NY)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act
This bill establishes a federal statutory framework to restrict the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians. The term enhanced body armor means body armor, including a helmet or shield, with a ballistic resistance that meets or exceeds the ballistic performance standard of Type III armor, as determined using the National Institute of Justice standard in effect at the time the person purchases, owns, or possesses the armor.

To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body 
                  armor by civilians, with exceptions.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body 
Armor Possession Act''.

SEC. 2. BAN ON PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION OF ENHANCED BODY 
              ARMOR BY CIVILIANS; EXCEPTIONS.

    (a) Ban.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 44 of title 18, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 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 enhanced 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 enforcement 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
            ``(2) includes corrections officers.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections 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.''.
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