New York’s Post-Buffalo Body Armor Ban Fails to Ban the Armor Used in Buffalo

On May 14 an attacker entered a Buffalo supermarket and killed ten people, including a security guard, who engaged the armor-clad attacker.

On June 6 the Associated Press (AP) reported that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed gun controls passed by New York Democrats who  took “quick action” after the Buffalo attack. The restrictions included new controls on the sale of semiautomatic rifles, microstamping requirements for pistols, and a ban on the sale of “bullet-proof vests and armor,” among other things.

On June 21 the AP ran a follow-up story noting that the NY Democrats’ new body armor ban does not prohibit the type of armor that was worn by the Buffalo attacker.

The AP reports that the attacker wore a steel-plated vest, then points out, “Vests carrying steel, ceramic or polyethylene plates, which can potentially stop rifle rounds, aren’t explicitly covered by the legislation.”

Gov. Hochul’s office made clear the governor is ready to amend the law to include vests that carry steel. “Governor Hochul was proud to sign the groundbreaking new law passed by the legislature to restrict sales of body armor, and will work with the legislature to expand the definitions in the law at the first available opportunity.”

AWR Hawkins is an award-winning Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and the writer/curator of Down Range with AWR Hawkins, a weekly newsletter focused on all things Second Amendment, also for Breitbart News. He is the political analyst for Armed American Radio and a Turning Point USA Ambassador. Follow him on Instagram: @awr_hawkins. Reach him at awrhawkins@breitbart.com. You can sign up to get Down Range at breitbart.com/downrange.