Press Releases

Retired Law Enforcement Officer Lt. Aaron Salter Returned Fire During the 5/14 Tops Supermarket Shooting Before Being Murdered - His Heroic Actions Saved Lives

Salter’s Shots Hit the Shooter, Who Was Unharmed Due to Use of Military-Grade Body Armor - Kennedy’s Legislation Would Ban Civilian Use

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Joined by colleagues, gun violence prevention activists, and leaders from Western New York, Congressman Tim Kennedy announced the introduction of the Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act. Named in honor of the late Buffalo Police Lieutenant Aaron Salter, Jr., the legislation would prohibit the ownership or sale of enhanced military grade body armor by civilians. 

Full video may be found here

Enhanced body armor has been used in multiple mass shootings across the country, including in Buffalo, New York. While working as an armed security guard on May 14, 2022, a domestic terrorist opened fire on innocent shoppers and Tops employees. Lt. Aaron Salter, Jr., utilized his extensive police training and immediately returned fire, hitting the attacker and buying precious seconds for others to flee. Due to Lt. Salter’s selfless heroism, lives were undoubtedly saved. Tragically, the shooter’s body armor deflected Salter’s shots, and he was killed.

Enhanced body armor, generally designed to withstand rifle ammunition, is specifically defined as armor meeting or exceeding the National Institute of Justice's RF1 ballistic resistance standard. Currently, this kind of military-grade body armor is legal for civilians in most states to purchase online without federal restrictions. This legislation seeks to change this by prohibiting its sale, transfer, or possession by civilians, while exempting law enforcement and military personnel. Doing so will ensure that this equipment cannot be used by individuals looking to commit acts of violence. 

“Three years ago today, my hometown of Buffalo, New York, joined an ever-growing list of cities victimized by domestic terrorism,” said Congressman Kennedy. “Lt. Salter, a 30-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, was working that day at Tops as an armed security guard. When gunshots rang out, his decades of training and experience kicked into action. Without hesitation, he drew his weapon and opened fire on the terrorist, hitting his target. But because that hate-filled killer was protected by military-grade RF1 body armor, he was unharmed, and returned fire, killing Lt. Salter.” 

“This is commonsense legislation,” Kennedy continued, “It protects police. It protects the public. And, if enacted, it will save lives, just like Lt. Aaron Salter, Jr. did on that terrible day.

This bill has been endorsed by the following organizations: Everytown, GIFFORDS, Brady, Newtown Action Alliance, and the Fraternal Order of Police. Additionally, the legislation is cosponsored by the following 20 Members of Congress: Nikki Budzinski, Troy Carter, Adriano Espaillat, Lauren Friedman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dan Goldman, Hank Johnson, Greg Landsman, George Latimer, Ted Lieu, Grace Meng, George Morelle, Jerry Nadler, Johnny Olszewski, Mary Gay Scanlon, Thomas Suozzi, Paul Tonko, Bennie Thompson, Nydia Velázquez, and Nikema Williams.

Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy, Brady said “More and more, we are seeing mass shooters employ enhanced body armor during shootings to prolong their attacks and make it incredibly difficult for law enforcement to effectively intervene. The 2022 Buffalo, NY, shooter used enhanced body armor to block a bullet fired by a guard that was intended to incapacitate him, allowing him to instead kill the guard and continue the carnage. Brady applauds Representative Kennedy for reintroducing the Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Act and for his continued dedication to ending widespread gun violence in America.” 

Vanessa Gonzalez, Vice President of Government & Political Affairs at GIFFORDS said “Mass shooters in military-style body armor have a deadly advantage—one that cost Officer Aaron Salter, Jr. his life. The gunman who killed him and nine others in Buffalo used body armor, designed to protect our troops, to carry out his racist attack and evade law enforcement. The Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act would help ensure this equipment, intended to defend those who serve our country, doesn’t fall into the hands of those who seek to do our country harm. We’re grateful to Representatives Kennedy and Meng for reintroducing this lifesaving legislation.”

“I am proud to join Rep. Kennedy in introducing the Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “Aaron Salter, Jr. gave his life protecting others during the horrific mass shooting at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo. With this legislation, we honor his courage and sacrifice with action. There is no legitimate reason why civilians should have easy access to enhanced body armor capable of stopping rifle fire, which has been used in multiple mass shootings to impede law enforcement response and increase the loss of life. This commonsense legislation will close a dangerous loophole and make our communities safer.”

“Three years ago today, ten people were tragically murdered in a racially motivated shooting in Buffalo, New York,” said Rep. Ted Lieu. “Today, I join my colleagues to honor the lives lost, including Aaron Salter, Jr., who swiftly and courageously acted to protect others. His heroism must always be remembered. It’s time we ban military-grade body armor for non-law enforcement like the kind used in this shooting and do everything we can to ensure nothing like this happens again.”

“Thank you to my friend Rep. Kennedy for introducing this important bill that honors a fallen hero, who on May 14, 2022, tried to save lives during a mass shooting,” said Congressman George Latimer. “Unfortunately, in this instance, even a ‘good guy with a gun’ was unable to stop the gunman because the gunman was in enhanced body armor. There are currently no federal restrictions on advanced body armor even though civilians have no need for it. Rep. Kennedy’s legislation fixes this loophole. We need this legislation to keep our police officers and the general public safe.”

“Three years ago today, 10 New Yorkers were tragically killed in the Buffalo Tops supermarket by a bigoted individual who was motivated by racism, antisemitism, and white supremacy,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This tragedy could have been avoided if civilians were not permitted to use weapons of war, including an assault weapon and military-grade body armor. I am proud to support Congressman Kennedy’s Aaron Salter, Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act, which would block civilians from obtaining military-grade bulletproof vests. While we mourn the victims of this senseless act of bigoted violence, we must continue pushing Republicans across the country to protect our communities and pass commonsense gun safety legislation. Our constituents deserve nothing less.

“I was honored to join Rep. Kennedy and local leaders from Buffalo, New York to honor those senselessly killed in the racially motivated shooting at a Tops supermarket in 2022,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. If not for retired police Lieutenant Aaron Salter, Jr., more lives would have been lost that day. We must ensure no other shooters are equipped with body armor that prevents law enforcement from neutralizing their threat. Thanks to Rep. Kennedy and our colleagues for co-sponsoring this bill.”

"As with weapons of war, the easy availability of military-grade body armor to dangerous and hateful individuals is a grave threat to Americans everywhere,” said Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart. “Aaron Salter, Jr. is a hero who gave his life to protect innocent people, and were it not for this terrorist being equipped with body armor, both he and many of the victims would still be with us today. I stand with Congressman Kennedy in urging Congress to pass this legislation to help protect civilians and law enforcement if and when, God forbid, another mass shooting is committed."

Po Murray, Chairwoman, Newtown Action Alliance said “As the neighbor of the shooter who carried out the Sandy Hook massacre, I know firsthand how dangerous it is when civilians have access to weapons and equipment designed for war. We strongly support Representative Kennedy’s bill to ban enhanced body armor for civilians. No mass shooter should be able to wear military-grade protection to prolong their rampage and make it harder for law enforcement to stop them. This legislation is a common-sense step toward protecting our communities and preventing more tragedies—and Congress must pass it without delay.”

In addition to Buffalo, shootings by gunmen wearing body armor have taken place in Sutherland Springs, Texas; Aurora, Colorado; Boulder, Colorado; San Bernardino, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and many other communities. This legislation was previously introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06).

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