INCREASE PENALTIES FOR POSSESSION OF BODY ARMOR
House Bill 6146
Sponsor: Rep. William Callahan
Committee: Criminal Justice
Complete to 10-30-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6146 AS INTRODUCED 5-29-02
The Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.227g) specifies that a person who has been convicted of a violent felony may not purchase, own, possess, or use body armor, which is defined elsewhere in the act to mean clothing or a device designed or intended to protect an individual's body or a portion of an individual's body from injury caused by a firearm. However, such a person may obtain written permission to buy, own, possess, or use body armor from the chief of police of the local unit of government in which he or she lives, or the county sheriff, as applicable, if the person's employment, livelihood, or safety depends on his or her ability to do so. A violation of these provisions is a felony, punishable by up to four years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $2,000, or both.
House Bill 6146 would amend the act to extend the ban against owning body armor to a person who had been convicted of bank, safe, and vault robbery, under Section 531 of the penal code (MCL 750.531), and to increase the maximum penalty for a violation of these provisions to five years imprisonment, $5,000, or both.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.