HR 3398 United States House · 119th Congress

Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act

HR 3398 (the Aaron Salter, Jr., Responsible Body Armor Possession Act) bans civilians from purchasing, owning, or possessing "enhanced body armor" (defined as bullet-resistant gear meeting National Institute of Justice RF1 standards) without exception. The law directly affects most private citizens who might seek such armor, while exempting law enforcement officers (including corrections officers), government agencies, tribes, and individuals who legally owned enhanced body armor before the law took effect. Key provisions include creating a new federal criminal offense punishable by up to five years in prison for violations, with clear definitions of "enhanced body armor" and "covered law enforcement officer" based on existing legal standards. The bill focuses on restricting access to high-level protective gear for non-official use, not on regulating standard body armor.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced May 14, 2025 Last action May 14, 2025