U.S. Senate Approves The James Guelff
and Chris McCurley Body Armor Act of 2001
May 15, 2001

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate last night approved legislation sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) designed to deter criminals from wearing body armor and distribute surplus Federal body armor to local law enforcement agencies.

“I commend the Senate for passing this important and long overdue legislation,” Senator Feinstein said. “It is unconscionable that current laws permit felons to obtain and wear body armor without restriction, when so many of our police lack comparable protection.”

“This imbalance puts police officers at risk and emboldens criminals. But by placing restrictions on the purchase and use of body armor and by enabling local law agencies to more easily obtain it, this legislation reverses that imbalance and makes it easier for law enforcement officers to do their jobs.”

This bill is named after two police officers, James Guelff and Chris McCurley, who were killed in the line of duty by criminal assailants wearing body armor. James Guelff was a highly decorated San Francisco police officer who was gunned down in 1994 by an assailant shielded by two-layers of body armor. Officer Guelff was the first to respond to the scene and returned fire, but the bullets could not penetrate the gunman’s kevlar vest and bullet-proof helmet.

Specifically, The James Guelff and Chris McCurley Body Armor Act of 2001 would:

• Direct the U.S. Sentencing Commission to provide an appropriate sentencing enhancement for any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime in which the defendant used body armor.

• Make it unlawful for a person who has been convicted of a violent felony to purchase, own, or possess body armor; and

• Enable Federal law enforcement agencies to donate surplus body armor (approximately 10,000 vests) directly to local and state police departments.

The legislation has been endorsed by law enforcement organizations, representing 500,000 officers. These organizations include: the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association, the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Troopers Coalition, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the International Association of Police Chiefs.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Representatives Bart Stupak (D-MI), Asa Hutchinson (R-AK), and Bobby Scott (D-VA).