Abstract: A selectively buffered dual stage air bag assembly, including an outer bag member, and an inner bag member disposed within the outer bag member. The inner bag member includes an outer wall with an outwardly facing surface for deployed placement facing toward a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The outer wall of the inner bag has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough, which define gas discharge ports for discharging gas from the inner bag member to the outer bag member. The inner bag member outwardly facing surface may be reinforced in the area of the apertures, and may have a porous material disposed across the apertures to affect the rate of gas flow therethrough. Preferably, the inner bag member is made from a non-woven, substantially inelastic material. The present invention further provides a method of using an air bag assembly of the type described.