Res. No. 767
Resolution calling on federal and state lawmakers to pass stricter regulations that ensure ammunition designed to penetrate body armor and bullet proof vests is not accessible within the United States.
By Council Members Vallone Jr., Cabrera, Chin, Fidler, Gentile, Koppell, Lander, Recchia Jr., Vann, Williams, Dromm, Nelson and Koo
Whereas, Law enforcement officers encounter many dangerous situations on the job, not the least of which are bullets capable of penetrating Kevlar body armor, bulletproof vests and helmets; and
Whereas, For example, Fabrique Nationale (FN) Herstal, a Belgium based manufacturing company, designed the 5.7x28mm ammunition, and boasts of its armor piercing capabilities; and
Whereas, To help protect law enforcement officials from these lethal bullets, the federal government prohibits the manufacturing, importation, sale or delivery of armor-piercing ammunition based on its content and weight; and
Whereas, FNH USA's website, a subsidiary of FN Herstal, indicates that some of these bullets are sold only for military and law enforcement purposes; and
Whereas, Despite efforts to restrict its use, a few online gun distributors indicate on their websites that they sell this banned ammunition; and
Whereas, On November 19, 2009, many gun violence prevention organizations co-wrote a letter to President Obama calling attention to this issue and stating, "we strongly urge your Administration to act today to prohibit the importation of the FN Five-seveN [sic] handgun as well as any 5.7X28mm ammunition that has armor-piercing capabilities (whether or not that ammunition meets the standard of the weak federal armor-piercing ammunition ban);" and
Whereas, Federal and state lawmakers should ensure that this ammunition does not cause any more harm; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on federal and state lawmakers to pass stricter regulations that ensure ammunition designed to penetrate body armor and bullet proof vests is not accessible within the United States.
SA
LS# 824
2/4/11