Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced this week that he will introduce legislation to restrict access to body armor and other “wares of war.”
“Shockingly, with the click of a mouse, the scroll of a thumb or the dialing of a phone, just about anyone can order-up the kind of advanced armor or tactical law enforcement gear we see used in wars or all-out law enforcement raids, and that is unacceptable and needs to change,” said Schumer, this week, in a press release obtained by GunsAmerica.
“As the pattern of these purchases becomes more and more predictable, we have to take a serious look at who is seeking this sophisticated armor and approving of a sale in the first place,” he added.
Under the Schumer bill, which he plans on introducing when the Senate returns from Summer recess, buying body armor would be like a may-issue concealed carry permit. Prospective purchasers would be required to give the FBI a “legitimate purpose” for owning body armor. If the agency disagrees with that “purpose,” the sale would not be sanctioned.
There would be an exemption for law enforcement and other occupations related to public safety.
Current federal law already prohibits violent or drug-related felons from purchasing body armor. But Schumer believes that in light of recent mass killings, law-abiding civilians should also be banned from owning protective and bullet-resistant gear…
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“Sadly, these shootings are happening so frequently that there is a sort of checklist,” explained Schumer. “People intent on doing evil might look into past shootings they seek to emulate. They might look into the weapons used, and then the gear worn, and now the veritable mass shooting checklist includes body armor. The bottom-line here is that the ease by which one can acquire wares of war demands the FBI sets reasonable regulations on who can get it.”
The Schumer press release cited a study that said “five percent of a group of 110 active shooters between 2000 and 2012 used body armor.”
Like with guns, Schumer sees body armor as a one-sided coin. That is, only in the context of it being leveraged to commit evil. Yes, it’s true, bad guys obtain body armor (or make it themselves) and use guns to take innocent lives. But it’s also true that good guys wear bullet-resistant gear and use guns to protect themselves, their family and their property.
While it’s hard to evaluate how often body armor protects responsible citizens because there is no agency tracking that specific statistic, we do know based on CDC research that guns are used 16 to 100 times more often by good guys to save innocent lives than by bad guys to do the opposite.
Couldn’t we reasonably assume that the same is true for body armor, at least in the sense that it keeps more good guys safe than it does bad guys? Put in a different light, wonder if Schumer would oppose the widespread adoption of bullet-resistant backpacks in schools? One could make the case that, if this were done, school children would be to a non-trivial degree safer.
Anyways, what that stat on DGUs goes to show is that lawmakers need to examine both sides of the proverbial coin before they call for sweeping restrictions on popular guns and gear — as that red tape ultimately makes the public more vulnerable to and less safe in the presence of would-be killers.
I’ve avoided saying for the past 8 months, but it’s time. You hear that FBI, CIA, DIA, Whitney and DemonRats? It’s time.
So, 5% of 110 is what? 5? So 5 shooters in 12 years wore body armor.
Don’t forget the shoes and socks. Do you really want to emulate the dead guy?
Schumer doesnt give a dam that bullet resistant backpacks for kids will be banned. His goal is to disarm and make vulnerable law abiding citizens and to create a Po!ice State where only the government KGB will possess arms and armor
Fun fact,if you are plated up you are more difficult for the shmuckles confiscation squad to kill.
ok Ok what part of Shall Not Be infringed upon did you not get Chucky????
It is the Right of the people to defend themselves from an Oppressive Government or a Tyrannical one.
Stating you are taking away GOD GIVEN RIGHTS of We the people only shows just how RIGHT this Constitutional Law is. Keep looking for that Shot that starts this hole thing off now. This Government is not ready for We the People to take back ALL our Rights. Trump is the Only thing holding this together plus a few Republican Rep’s. Lose that and this will be over in less than a year. Or TRUMP 2020 happens and you get a 4 year reprieve from compleat Civil war. Democrats should be thankful that Trump is sitting high in polls now.
Still waiting…………..
Among his other tasks, President Trump should have the FBI investigate who is making campaign contributions (BRIBES) to all these anti gun politicians (BLOOMBERG) and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
GET A ROPE!!
I agree, schumer IS a domestic communist ! But, what of the people who have voted to keep this career politician in office ? What are they ?
Seems Schumer is scared …i bet hes wearing body armor made by Pelosi …
Another anti-American liberal wanting to restrict access for law abiding citizens to protect themselves.
What Uncle Upchuck doesn’t realize is that body armor is even easier to make than “Ghost” guns!
Does that include the backpacks with armor panels being marketed to parents of school kids?
So now defensive equipment is going to be restricted? What next, tactical pants? What about the body armor marketed for use in kids backpacks, is that too dangerous too?
Hey serial rapist prez Slick Willies AG J Reno wanted to outlaw possession and wearing of military cammo uniforms by civilians.
This Man is A MORON !
No just just a vile pos commie scumbag.
Schumer and the rest of the flaming left needs to know that we don’t need their permission to protect ourselves. SCOTUS has already ruled that police have no duty to protect us and the 2nd amendment bans government interference with our gun rights! Soon, we expect SCOTUS to throw out New York’s draconin gun laws and bring the state back to reality.
Schumer is nothing but a self-serving fool. His ideas will solve no problems. He does not understand what the real problems are. He just reacts to event in the only way he knows how to- by “writing bills.”
How about we restrict access to armed body guards??? After all, only elite ‘servants’ of our Govt. should have access to safety.
Democrat Congressmen want to regulate everything for us, and nothing for them. Americans on both sides should come together and demand term limits. Maybe if these fools were subjected to what is going on in the real world, they’d not be so quick to regulate away our safety.
Schumer is a Communist. The entire party of Democrats is a Communist organization. Everything they stand for and campaign on will destroy America. Even more troubling is that half the country expresses a desire for Communism.
Schumer doesnt give a dam that bullet resistant backpacks for kids will be banned. His goal is to disarm and make vulnerable law abiding citizens and to create a Po!ice State where only the government KGB will possess arms and armor