Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4553
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T13:58:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4553: Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act
Purpose
This legislation aims to restrict civilians from acquiring or keeping certain types of protective gear by adding a new prohibition under federal criminal law.
Key Provisions
- Ban on Enhanced Body Armor: It becomes illegal for most individuals to purchase, own, or possess "enhanced body armor," defined as body armor (including helmets or shields) that meets or exceeds the ballistic performance level of RF1 armor, based on standards from the National Institute of Justice.
- Exceptions: The ban does not apply to:
- Purchases or possession authorized by the federal government, states, or tribes.
- "Covered law enforcement officers," which include qualified current or retired officers (as defined in existing law) and corrections officers.
- Items lawfully owned before the law takes effect.
- Penalties: Violations can result in fines, up to 5 years in prison, or both.
- Definitions and Updates: The bill adds the term "enhanced body armor" to the definitions in Title 18 and updates the table of sections in Chapter 44 to include the new prohibition.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new Section 935 in Chapter 44 of Title 18, United States Code, creating the civilian ban.
- Amends Section 921(a) to define enhanced body armor.
- Adds a new penalty provision under Section 924(a) for violations.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Limits access to high-level protective equipment for private individuals, with an exception for items already owned.
- On Government Agencies: Allows continued use by federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement entities without restriction.
- On International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Private citizens and individuals seeking to own body armor.
- Law enforcement officers and corrections personnel.
- Federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies.
- Manufacturers and sellers of body armor.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Creates a new federal criminal offense with penalties, expanding restrictions on personal property.
- Includes a grandfather clause for prior lawful possession, which may affect enforcement.
- The bill references existing definitions from Sections 926B and 926C for law enforcement qualifications.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-18: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-05-18: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act — issued 2026-05-18 — PDF (3 pages)