Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act
Officially: “Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act.
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act .
2Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians
This section would add a new provision to federal criminal law making it unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess enhanced body armor. "Enhanced body armor" would mean body armor, including a helmet or shield, whose ballistic resistance meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of RF1 armor, judged against whatever standard the National Institute of Justice has in effect at the time the person purchases, owns, or possesses it. The ban would not apply to purchase, ownership, or possession by or under the authority of the United States or any of its departments or agencies; a State or any department, agency, or political subdivision of a State; or a Tribe or a law enforcement agency of a Tribe. It also would not apply to a "covered law enforcement officer," defined as anyone who meets the existing federal definition of a qualified law enforcement officer or a qualified retired law enforcement officer, and this term would also include corrections officers. A further exception would cover enhanced body armor that a person already lawfully possessed before this section's enactment date. Anyone who knowingly violates the ban would be fined, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.
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2. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians (a) Ban (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) Definition 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. (b) Prohibition Except as provided in subsection (c), it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess enhanced body armor. (c) Exceptions Subsection (b) 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; (B) a State, or a department, agency, or political subdivision of a State; or (C) a Tribe or law enforcement agency of a Tribe; (2) a covered law enforcement officer; or (3) enhanced body armor that was lawfully possessed by any person before the date of enactment of this section. . (2) Technical and conforming amendment The table of sections 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 adding at the end the following: (39) 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 RF1 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: (9) Whoever knowingly violates section 935 shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. .
Where it is
In the Senate.