Anti-Self Defense Legislation Update

Back in early January, we reported the New York State Senate introducing Assembly Bill 352, which seeks to criminalize “the unlawful possession or purchase of a body vest.”

As we write this, Assembly Bill A352 has moved to the Codes committee where it currently sits. This is the same fate as the same bill that was introduced (and died) in the 2019-2020 New York Legislative Session.

Although it’s still early in the 2021-2022 session, we urge you and your NY family and friends to take action now by contacting your NY Senator to register your opposition to the state infringing on your right to protect yourself and loved ones, for merely owning a defensive tool. 

At the national level, there has yet to be anything introduced regulating body armor. However, given there have been three previous attempts at regulating Level III and higher armor (HR 5344 in 2014, HR 378 in 2015, and HR 4568 in 2019), we wouldn’t be surprised if there is another attempt by the current administration. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Gutting the Second Amendment

We have long believed that body armor is one of the Tools of Liberty the Second Amendment protects from the actions of government tyrants, and even though the Second Amendment is very clear, “...shall not be infringed,” those who seek to oppress the People are back at it again.

On January 4, 2021, two bills were submitted to Congress by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), that would all but kill the Right to Keep and Bear Arms if passed in their submitted forms.

The first, H.R.125, would mandate a seven day waiting period for the transfer of a “semiautomatic firearm, a silencer, armor piercing ammunition, or a large capacity ammunition magazine”, including between private parties. It is currently in the House Judiciary Committee. 

The second bill, H.R.127, would essentially gut the Second Amendment w/o actually repealing it. It’s a laundry list of all the things anti-freedom tyrants want for gun control. It is also currently in the House Judiciary Committee.

• Imposes a registration scheme that would catalog all your firearms, personal information and firearms storage information into a centralized database that would be open to the public
• Creates a national firearms licensing requirement for those 21 and older, administered by the Attorney General’s office, that would also require a second license to own ‘military style’ firearms
• Requires a psychological evaluation on your fitness to own firearms, and the evaluator can ask former spouses/partners and other family members about you and your ‘stability’ in relation to owning firearms
• Prohibits transfer of firearms to anyone under 18
• Requires an $800 per year insurance fee for license holders 

It also criminalizes giving or loaning firearms or ammunition without notifying the Attorney General, and the recipient must also be licensed.

Penalties for violating these laws range fines between $5,000-$10,000 for loaning a firearm to someone without notifying the Attorney General, to fines between $75,000-$150,000 and/or a prison sentence of between 15-25 years, for not having a license.

The takeaway

These bills are direct threats to our God-given right to self-defense, a right the Second Amendment restricts government from infringing.

These bills directly impact those of lesser financial means who cannot afford the government’s licensing or insurance requirements. 

Irrespective of these bills’ sponsor, these bills need to be taken seriously, and must be opposed at every instance. 

What can you do, right now?

• Contact your Congressional Representative and let them know your opposition to these bill as blatant infringements on the Second Amendment.
• If you don’t know who your Representatives are, visit Congress.gov and look for the “contact your member” section. Enter your information and it will list your Representative and Senators and how to contact them.
• Share this post with friends and have them contact their Representatives to oppose these unconstitutional and bigoted bills.