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116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 4568
To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor
by civilians, with exceptions.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
Ms. MENG (for herself, Mr. QUIGLEY, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. BROWNLEY of Cali-
fornia, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms.
VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To prohibit the purchase, ownership, or possession of
enhanced body armor by civilians, with exceptions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Responsible Body
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Armor Possession Act’’.
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SEC. 2. BAN ON PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP, OR POSSESSION
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OF ENHANCED BODY ARMOR BY CIVILIANS;
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EXCEPTIONS.
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(a) BAN.—
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•HR 4568 IH
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 44 of title 18,
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United States Code, is amended by adding at the
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end the following:
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‘‘§ 932. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of
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enhanced body armor by civilians
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‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be
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unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess en-
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hanced body armor.
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‘‘(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to—
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‘‘(1) a purchase, ownership, or possession by or
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under the authority of—
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‘‘(A) the United States or any department
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or agency of the United States; or
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‘‘(B) a State, or a department, agency, or
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political subdivision of a State;
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‘‘(2) a qualified law enforcement officer; or
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‘‘(3) enhanced body armor that was lawfully
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possessed by any person at any time before the date
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this section takes effect.
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‘‘(c) In this section, the term ‘qualified law enforce-
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ment officer’ means any current or former officer (includ-
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ing a corrections officer), agent, or employee of the United
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States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State author-
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ized by law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detec-
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tion, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of the
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•HR 4568 IH
laws of the United States, a State, or a political subdivi-
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sion of a State.’’.
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(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
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tions for chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code,
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is amended by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘932. Ban on purchase, ownership, or possession of enhanced body armor by
civilians.’’.
(b) ENHANCED BODY ARMOR DEFINED.—Section
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921(a) of such title is amended by adding at the end the
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following:
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‘‘(36) The term ‘enhanced body armor’ means body
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armor, including a helmet or shield, the ballistic resistance
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of which meets or exceeds the ballistic performance of
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Type III armor, determined using such standard as the
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National Institute of Justice has in effect at the time at
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which a person purchases, owns, or possesses such
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armor.’’.
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(c) PENALTIES.—Section 924(a) of such title is
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amended by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(8) Whoever knowingly violates section 932 shall be
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fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 10 years,
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or both.’’.
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Æ
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