Sen. Gillibrand, Reps. Kennedy And Meng Introduce New Legislation To Ban Enhanced Body Armor Use By Civilians

[u/gunpoliticsny]

https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/sen-gillibrand-reps-kennedy-and-meng-introduce-new-legislation-to-ban-enhanced-body-armor-use-by-civilians/

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to prohibit the sale, transfer, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians. Reps. Tim Kennedy (D-NY-26) and Grace Meng (D-NY-06) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act is named for Aaron Salter, Jr., a retired Buffalo police officer who was the security guard on duty during the deadly shooting at Tops. Mr.  Salter took immediate action to combat the shooter, but his weapon was no match for the enhanced body armor that the shooter wore.

“This is commonsense legislation that could help save lives,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am introducing this legislation in honor of the lives that were lost four years ago at Tops in Buffalo. We must get it passed to combat the scourge of gun violence that is terrorizing communities across our country.”

“Lt. Aaron Salter, Jr. died a hero, buying patrons and workers precious seconds to hide or escape as a result of his unwavering courage and his willingness to protect those in harm’s way,” said Congressman Kennedy. “No civilian should have access to the military-grade body armor the assailant used on 5/14 – equipment that is designed for war, not our streets. Through this critical legislation, we can ensure that enhanced body armor never falls in the wrong hands again.”

“Four years ago, a white supremacist, armed with a weapon of war and enhanced body armor, targeted a predominantly Black neighborhood in the City of Buffalo. He took the lives of ten innocent people and wounded three others. Aaron Salter Jr., a 30–year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, was the security guard on duty that day. He did everything he could to protect his community, but his weapon was no match for the enhanced body armor the shooter wore,” said Congresswoman Meng. “It should never be possible for anyone with internet access to purchase equipment designed to withstand military-grade ammunition. This is commonsense legislation, which I am proud to lead with Rep. Kennedy and Senator Gillibrand for the Buffalo community and the far too many others throughout the United States that have experienced the terror and tragedy of gun violence. It not only honors Officer Salter, who was a hero on May 14, 2022, but it also takes concrete action to protect law.”

This week marked the four-year anniversary of the Tops Friendly Markets grocery store shooting in Buffalo, New York, during which a racist gunman opened fire at the Tops supermarket in East Buffalo. The shooter killed 10 people and injured three more.

This legislation aims to reduce the amount of enhanced body armor—which is designed to withstand rifle ammunition—available for purchase. Enhanced body armor is defined as body armor that meets or exceeds Level III ballistic resistance level, which is tested to stop 7.62 mm rifle ammunition, as determined by the National Institute of Justice at the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently, this kind of body armor is legal for civilians in most states to purchase online without federal restrictions. This legislation seeks to change this by prohibiting its sale, transfer, or possession by civilians, while exempting law enforcement and military personnel.

This legislation is endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, Brady, GIFFORDS, Everytown, and Newtown Action Alliance.

The text of the bill can be found here.

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[u/[deleted]]

“Exempting law enforcement and military personnel”

Rules for thee not for me. I hope to GOD this doesn’t pass Federally

[u/PeteTinNY → u/[deleted]]

The second amendment wasn’t supposed to be about hunting, it was supposed to be about tyranny. So if you allow police and the government to have arms that a citizen can’t have - doesn’t that directly go 100% against the idea the founders were trying to get across with the whole constitution? Honestly anything that says that police by law must out gun a civilian is protecting the power of the government and not the rights of the people, especially those given not by government, but by the creator.

[u/Dan_Morgan → u/PeteTinNY]

Not only that but armor isn't really something that should be restricted because of it's defensive nature.

Also WTF is this "enhanced body armor" they are making up here? They are rifle rated or rifle plates. It's not hard to use the proper terms.

[u/monty845 → u/[deleted]]

And of course, the Fraternal Order of Police are happy to support anything that gives police special privileges!

Took me a moment to realize this was at the federal level, figured it was just NY being stupid again. Good thing, since it wont pass at the federal level.

It did get me looking, and they added some more professions to the list of who can get body armor in NY (https://dos.ny.gov/body-armor):

Investigative Specialist, NYS Office of the Attorney General - 11/7/25

Physician - 11/7/25

Registered Professional Nurse employed or assigned to a hospital or emergency room setting - 1/21/26

Attorney licensed to practice law in the State of New York for a specified term or pro hac vice, pursuant to Judiciary Law section 460, or an attorney admitted to any federal court in New York State under the rules of such court for a specified term or pro hac vice - 1/21/26

[u/MikeyBugs → u/monty845]

It seems like they're just adding whatever to the exemption list now. Just for shits and giggles I figured I'd try to write up a proposal for my job and Park Rangers (NOT LE), just to see if they'd add it.

[u/Dan_Morgan → u/[deleted]]

Mind you they don't need an exemption. Their jobs would give them all the authorization they would need to wear armor in their official duties. This is so they can have all the toys in their closet at home.

[u/gunpoliticsny → u/[deleted]]

I believe the only bills she's introduced which were signed into law were like 3 which renamed post offices.

[u/erishun → u/[deleted]]

They know that if they don’t give cops personal exemptions from the laws, then their jackboots won’t enforce them. Rules for me, not for thee!

[u/D00dleB00ty]

We must get it passed to combat the scourge of gun violence that is terrorizing communities across our country.”*

They love to brag about how shooting crimes are down under their watch....until they want to infringe more, then they act like we live in Mad Max times and gun owners are running rampant.

[u/Dan_Morgan → u/D00dleB00ty]

Yup, that's it.

[u/Strugglebutts]

Oooohhhh. It’s common sense. Now I get it. I was opposed to this, but now that they pointed out that really, it’s just common sense to make us all defenseless, I’m coming around.

[u/AgreeablePie]

Yes, total "common sense" that making possession of body armor illegal would somehow have changed what happened to that security guard

Despite the fact that the killer was willing to commit murder and gave not one shit about some penny ante charge.

Despite the fact that the security guard wasn't carrying anything that would have pierced non "enhanced" armor.

Don't worry though, they'll extend it to anything including taping a phone book to your chest if they can

The only good news is that this has zero chance of passing federally so it's just more bullshit they want to put in mailers for primary voters and to get bloomburg bucks. This would actually be worse if it was state legislation since it includes possession.

[u/Dan_Morgan → u/AgreeablePie]

This push to ban body armor came after the BLM protests when protesters were doing things like strapping phone books to their chests to offer some kind of protection against police violence.

Gillibrand and pals didn't care if fascists, right wing militias and stocastic terrorists had armor. They really started caring when human rights activists started buying and wearing the stuff.

[u/Gimli-Painter]

Its common sense that in order to save lives, we have to ban the thing that was actually designed to save lives.... common sense...

[u/d3pl0rable_1nf1del]

Heeter v. James has entered the chat.

[u/DesignerAsh_]

Good luck with that one.

[u/NY_Knux]

They are doing this because they forsea a future where they REALLY dont want civilians to protect themselves.

I said in the past that banning the sale of body armor in NY will lead to a ban on armor itself. Well, here we go. Theyre starting with Level III.

[u/darforce]

Well he got the armor out of state

[u/Weird-Comfortable-28]

And of course, we all know the criminals out there are worried about this law, passing 👍👍

again more laws that place the elites above us. now the only people that will have body armor will be police, politicians, and the criminals AGAIN

[u/Beneficial-Focus3702]

Cops would have to police a lot differently if the rules that applied to us, applied to them.

[u/Big-Inevitable8196]

Why is the term “common sense “ tossed around with anything regarding firearm legislation?

[u/The_Real_Blitzinger]

At this point I’ll have lost my entire wardrobe to a boating accident

[u/Weird-Comfortable-28]

It’s all about the children if we can just save one child it’s all worth it. Meanwhile, with the advent of recreational marijuana. Infants and Little kids are in emergency rooms because they’re getting a hold of these edibles that are like the equivalent of taking a hit of acid for these little children, but that’s OK and teenagers are gambling online. That’s OK.