Tim Kennedy Questions Law Enforcement Officials On ‘Enhanced Body Armor’ Protections

5 months ago

Last month Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY) questioned law enforcement officials on protections for officers during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

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Transcript

00:00 I now recognize Mr. Kennedy, the gentleman from New York, for five minutes of questioning.

00:03 Thank you very much. First of all, Chairman Green and Ranking Member Thompson,

00:13 thank you for holding this hearing today. Also, I'd like to recognize the service of

00:21 Congressman Donald Payne Jr., who passed away far too soon just a few weeks ago,

00:27 served on this committee so nobly, and leaves behind an incredible legacy for over a decade.

00:34 He honorably served and fought for his constituents in Newark, New Jersey.

00:39 Yesterday, May 14th, was the second anniversary of the Topps supermarket

00:46 shooting in Buffalo, New York, my hometown, an attack that struck the heart of our city

00:56 and really of our nation. Racist, white supremacist gunmen came to Buffalo,

01:03 armed with an AR-15 style rifle covered in disgusting racist messages, and attacked

01:12 citizens that were simply going to the supermarket on a beautiful Saturday afternoon,

01:21 taking 10 beautiful souls, while it was streamed online in over a matter of minutes.

01:28 One of the victims was Lieutenant Aaron Salter Jr., a retired Buffalo police officer working

01:37 at Topps as an armed security guard. And when the shooter came in, Lieutenant Salter didn't hesitate

01:47 and return fire, hitting his target. But because of the enhanced body armor,

01:54 the shooter was unharmed and murdered Lieutenant Salter. Lieutenant Aaron Salter Jr.'s courageous

02:05 actions bought precious seconds for store patrons and employees to escape, saving lives

02:12 at the expense of his own. And he serves as a true testament to the sacrifices that police

02:18 officers make for their communities, and we're grateful for his historic actions.

02:24 I also want to recognize all law enforcement, this being National Police Week. As the grandson

02:32 of a Buffalo police officer myself, I recognize the sacrifices that families make on a daily basis

02:40 as their loved ones go off and put themselves in harm's way.

02:44 I want to talk about enhanced body armor, and I have questions for our panelists, and I thank the

02:52 panelists for your testimony today and your lifelong commitment to protecting our streets

02:58 across this country. As I described the situation that played out in Buffalo just over two years ago,

03:07 we know that Lieutenant Aaron Salter Jr. died a hero and embodied everything that

03:13 police officers across the nation stand for. He used his training to help others.

03:18 Because of that body armor, he was unable to stop the perpetrator in that moment.

03:27 I would like to ask each of you in your respective capacities to believe that

03:33 enhanced body armor should be readily available for citizens who are not law enforcement.

03:39 Thank you for the question, Congressman. It's something I haven't considered before. I would

03:48 suppose there are opinions on both sides. Body armor also provides safety for people who are

03:56 doing shooting sports. I would hesitate to say people can't have it, but I don't have a clear

04:01 answer for you on that. This would be enhanced body armor, level three body armor, military style grade.

04:08 Again, I don't have an answer for you. Thank you. Sheriff? That's an interesting question,

04:16 and I don't know if I have an answer either. Although, if somebody's going to purchase that,

04:20 it would certainly be nice for us to know and have that information available in the

04:25 event that we have to encounter that person at a later time. Thank you.

04:29 I'm kind of in the, we're all in a similar boat, I'm going to imagine, where it's not a question

04:36 that's yet been posed. You know, we're here obviously to protect people's rights and their

04:42 ability to purchase what is legal for them to do so, but obviously it's concerning when it

04:49 impedes our ability to enforce the law. So I think there's a balance that has to be found in all of

04:54 that. I would agree that more conversation would need to be had as it relates to it.

05:01 It is concerning when people can use that level of equipment in a criminal act. I yield my time.

Tim Kennedy Questions Law Enforcement Officials On ‘Enhanced Body Armor’ Protections

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