Bill > S4553

This bill, known as the Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act, aims to prohibit civilians from purchasing, owning, or possessing "enhanced body armor," which is defined as body armor, including helmets or shields, that meets or exceeds the ballistic resistance of RF1 armor, as determined by the National Institute of Justice. The bill amends Title 18 of the United States Code to create a new section that makes it unlawful for any person to acquire or hold such armor, with specific exceptions for the United States government, state and local governments, Tribal governments and their law enforcement agencies, and "covered law enforcement officers," which includes qualified law enforcement officers, qualified retired law enforcement officers, and corrections officers. The legislation also allows for the continued lawful possession of enhanced body armor that was owned before the bill's enactment, and violations of this prohibition would be punishable by fines, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.