Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - During a visit to East Buffalo on Thursday, Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-6) along with Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) advocated for approval of the Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act.
Reps. Meng and Higgins were also joined on Thursaday by City of Buffalo Mayor Brown, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, and family members of the victims of the Tops mass shooting on May 14, 2022. This included Zeneta Everhart (son of survivor Zaire Goodman), Garnell Whitfield (son of victim Ruth Whitfield) and Damon Young (son of victim Pearl Young).
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"Some like to say, 'The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.' Aaron Salter was a good guy with a gun, but he was ultimately left defenseless against the military-style weapon and body armor used by the Buffalo shooter," said Congressman Higgins during Thursday's press conference at the Frank J. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library. "This is a common-sense measure to better protect our neighbors and the good people working every day to respond to emergencies and protect our communities."
The bill sponsored by Reps. Meng and Higgins would prohibit the sale, transfer, or possession of enhanced body armor by civilians with exemptions for law enforcement, active-duty military, or others who use the equipment for work.
The use of body armor among mass shooters has increased in recent years, limiting the ability of law enforcement to protect themselves and the community, and consequently making these mass killings more deadly.
In the case of the 2022 racist mass shooting in Buffalo, retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter, Jr.’s attempt to stop the shooter with his own weapon was thwarted by the shooter’s body armor, and the brave security guard lost his life while saving countless others.
Body armor has been used in many high-profile mass shootings across the country including but not limited to:
- 2012: Movie Theater in Aurora, Colo.: 12 dead / 70 wounded
- 2017: First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas: 26 dead / 22 wounded
- 2021: King Soopers Supermarket in Boulder, Colo.: 10 dead (including a responding police officer)
- 2022: Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y.: 10 dead / 3 wounded
- 2023: Mall Shooting in Allen, Texas: 8 dead / 7 wounded
Both Congressmembers note their body armor legislation would build on the progress made under the bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The law, approved by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in 2022, takes several steps to address gun violence in America including strengthening “red flag” policies to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, investing in Community Violence Intervention programs, and supporting improvements to mental health services and school safety.
The Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act is supported by gun safety and law enforcement organizations including Brady and the Major Cities Chiefs Associations.
More from Thursday's press conference is available in the player below: