The DOJ played a major role in developing soft body armor made from a synthetic fiber marketed under the trade name 'Kevlar' and helped develop a body armor standard published in l978. An estimated 50 percent of the Nation's law enforcement officials use this armor, and it has saved the lives of an estimated 400 police officers during the past 8 years. Therefore, the DOJ has become concerned over the recent availability of handgun ammunition capable of defeating soft body armor and has worked to develop a suitable legislative remedy to the problem. DOJ technicians had known for years that certain ammunition types could pierce soft body armor, but became concerned when a national news program in l982 focused on the KTW bullet. They feared the publicity would encourage assassins and other criminals to seek out this ammunition and might discourage police officers from wearing body armor. Early efforts by DOJ to legislate controls produced proposals that were too broad and imprecise. The DOJ now supports enactment of mandatory minimum penalties for criminal use of such ammunition during a Federal crime of violence. In addition, the Department of the Treasury met with ammunition manufacturers and importers and secured voluntary agreements to halt importation, manufacture, or public use of the most dangerous armor-piercing bullets. Finally, the DOJ has developed test procedures that distinguish among different bullet types based on penetration capability to help legislators draft restrictions.