State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi introduced two bills on Tuesday aimed to "demilitarize law enforcement." 

One bill would ban the use of tear gas and prohibit officers from using pepper spray for crowd control purposes. 

"The sheer purpose of tear gas is to trigger pain receptors that cause crying, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, and temporary blindness upon exposure with the risk of long-term consequences," Biaggi wrote in a release. "It is unfathomable that in the middle of a respiratory pandemic, we are seeing officers fire tear gas and pepper spray at peaceful protestors with impunity. For years, police have abused tear gas, showing zero restraint. Enough is enough."

In 1925 the Geneva Protocol first banned the use of tear gas during war, but the U.S. has continued to use it for domestic purposes. 

Law enforcement officials say that tear gas has been a useful tool on rioters and is only used to protect officers. 

“When you start throwing Molotov cocktails then it becomes a matter of defending ourselves,” Albany Police Officer Union President Gregory McGee said. “The tear gas is a great deterrent, it disperses the crowd. It’s outside.”

Biaggi also introduced a bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from receiving or purchasing military surplus equipment. This includes drones. grenades,  silencers or militarized armored vehicles.

These two bills are not linked to an accompanying Assembly bill, so it is unclear if these bills will be passed by both houses this week.