[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E346]]
                  JAMES GUELFF BODY ARMOR ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2001

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the James Guelff 
Body Armor Act of 2001 with my colleagues Asa Hutchinson and Bobby 
Scott. I also want to commend Senator Feinstein and Senator Sessions 
for introducing this legislation in the Senate, and Lee Guelff and the 
Fraternal Order of Police on their hard work in moving this legislation 
forward. Our bill is an important stride for law enforcement: it takes 
body armor out of the hands of criminals and gives law enforcement 
greater access to it.
  This bill means a great deal to me. I have introduced similar 
legislation in the House for several years, and have been part of the 
ongoing effort to pass this bill. It is also rewarding that this year 
we have a bipartisan team in both the House and the Senate working to 
pass bill that is so important to our nation's law enforcement.
  Special thanks are certainly owed to Lee Guelff, who has worked 
tirelessly on this issue since his brother was tragically killed by a 
shooter wearing body armor and a Kevlar helmet. Through his efforts, 
and that of countless police officers across the country, individual 
states are passing similar pieces of legislation. In fact, I am pleased 
to say that last year my own state of Michigan passed legislation 
banning the ownership or usage of body armor by convicted felons, and I 
commend the Michigan legislature for its action.
  Law enforcement officers all over the country need protection from 
criminals wearing body armor. These offenders are impervious to the 
bullets of the police officers trying to stop them, yet these very same 
police officers incredibly often lack funds for their own body armor.
  You may all recall the chilling video of a shootout at a bank robbery 
in California some years ago, where the perpetrators could not be 
brought down because they were wearing body armor. Eleven police 
officers and six civilians were injured in that 20 minute gunfight with 
the Los Angeles Police Department.
  This is a threat to law enforcement, and this bill is needed. We 
cannot allow criminals to have an advantage over the men and women that 
put their lives on the line every day to protect society. The days of 
the Wild West are over, and gunfights have no place in our society. 
Criminals should not be able to face police without fear because they 
are protected by body armor, able to shoot at will.
  Our bill enhances the penalties for crimes committed while wearing 
body armor, outlaws the possession of body armor by convicted felons 
and promotes the donation of surplus body armor to police. These 
measures will take away the criminals' advantage and return the power 
to the people that deserve it, our nation's law enforcement. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues on passing this important 
legislation this year.

                          ____________________