Body armor saves countless lives every day, and it is used all over the US, and the rest of the world by Law Enforcement, the Military, and even Civilians. In the US, Federal Law states that any law-abiding citizen can purchase and wear body armor, however, when it comes to state laws, some states have certain restrictions on how you can buy armor, and where it can be worn.
So, in this article, we will talk about the legal status of body armor and bulletproof clothing in different states, and discuss the intricacies of federal body armor law in more detail. We will also talk about the legal states of body armor in some other countries in the world, and try to answer all of your questions related to the legality of ballistic armor.
According to Federal Law, Any citizen, who is 18 years old or above, and has not been convicted of a violent crime can legally own and use body armor in the United States. If a felon convicted of a violent crime requires body armor for their profession, they can purchase body armor, however, they need to have written permission from their employer, and the guarantee that the use of armor will be limited to their professional duties.
Where can you legally buy body armor?
In all 50 states of the US, you can buy body armor via a Face-to-Face transaction, and in all states except Connecticut, you can even buy body armor online or over the phone. You also don't need to go through any background checks, or show an ID or permit to purchase body armor in all states.
Where can you legally wear body armor?
In general, federal law allows all law-abiding citizens who can buy body armor to legally wear it as well in any public area, however, different states are allowed to make their own laws regarding the use of body armor, and in some states and cities, you will not be allowed to wear body armor is certain situations.
For instance, some cities or states may prevent the use of body armor during public parades and protests. In some states, it may be illegal to wear body armor to police stations or government buildings, or schools.
Can you wear body armor to work?
In the US, businesses and citizens have the right to prohibit the use of body armor within the premises of their business grounds, or private properties. Therefore, if you intend to wear body armor to work, it is better to check up with the specific policies of your workplace before wearing body armor to work.
Can you legally wear concealed body armor in public?
Yes, if you are allowed to wear body armor in public, you can also wear concealed bulletproof clothing like a Wonder Hoodie, Bulletproof Pants, or concealable Bulletproof Vests. In fact, concealable body armor is better for most situations, as it does not attract too much attention, and allows you to go about your day without getting concerned looks and questions from people and law enforcement officers.
Most states abide by federal law when it comes to body armor-related laws, however, some states have extra restrictions or leniencies. Here is a quick run-down of these states.
Connecticut:
Connecticut has quite strict laws about body armor. In fact, unlike in other states, body armor can only be bought through a face-to-face transaction. Buying body armor online, or on the phone is considered a Class B misdemeanor punishable by 6-month imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both. However, certain individuals or entities like law enforcement agencies, the national guard and armed forces, the division of criminal justice, the parole board, and correctional facilities are exempt from this restriction.
Louisiana:
In Louisiana, anyone can buy or use body armor, except on school grounds, and during school-arranged events and functions including, but not limited to; sporting events, dances, parties, and field trips. It is also illegal to wear body armor in a firearm-free zone, and without 1000 feet of any school campus
Maryland:
According to federal law, only people convicted of a violent crime are prohibited from buying or using body armor, however, the state of Maryland extends this restriction to people convicted of drug trafficking as well. People with prior convictions of drug trafficking or a violent crime need to get a special permit issued by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police to buy or use body armor.
New York:
After the recent bill, banning the purchase of body armor was passed and implemented in New York, it now has the most strict body armor laws in the country. The bill was signed in response to the supermarket shooting in buffalo, New York, and the school shooting in Uvalde Texas, during which the attacker was wearing body armor.
Senate Bill S9407B prohibits the purchase of body vests, which they described as "bullet-resistant soft body armor to people who are not in an eligible profession. However, the bill does not have any information about the legality of hard body armor plates, which is causing a lot of confusion. Moreover, the first offense or illegally buying body armor would be considered a class A misdemeanor, and all subsequent offenses will be constituted as class E felony.
As of now, the bill only prohibits the sale of soft body armor vests, which is quite counterintuitive, since the Buffalo shooter wasn't even wearing soft armor. He was wearing hard armor plates and using that incident to ban soft armor doesn't make much sense.
So, if you live in New York, and want to purchase body armor, you can have it shipped to a family member who lives outside of New York, or to someone who is in active law enforcement.
Apart from the above-mentioned states, all states in the US have similar body armor laws to the federal governments. Anyone, 18 or above, can buy body armor if they haven't been convicted of a violent crime. It is also illegal to use body armor while engaging in any criminal activity, however, the severity of the offense may be different in some states. Some states may consider it a misdemeanor, while some as a felony. However, in general, wearing body armor during an illegal activity is illegal in all states.
Canada:
In Canada, the purchase and use of body armor are legal in all provinces and territories except for Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. In these places, you need to be in law enforcement, be a security guard, or have a firearms license or special body armor permit ID to use body armor.
UK
In the UK, there isn't any specific law against wearing or owning body armor, however, firearms aren't that common there either, therefore if you do wear body armor, you will get concerned looks from the police, who may even have grounds to search you. So, though it isn't strictly illegal to own body armor in the UK, it isn't quite popular either.
Mexico:
Generally, Body Armor is legal in Mexico if it is worn for protection, however, if you are traveling to Mexico, it is better to check up on the laws of the specific area you are traveling to.
European Union:
In the European Union, Body Armor is considered to be military armament, and it can not be owned by civilians. In most cases, this restriction applies to hard body armor plates, however, countries in the EU have their own specific laws as well.
Written by Muhammad A. , Reviewed by Matt H.
I'm an expert in the field of body armor and ballistic protection, with a deep understanding of the legal aspects surrounding its use. My expertise comes from years of research, hands-on experience, and a comprehensive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing body armor in various regions. I'll provide a detailed analysis of the information presented in the article, addressing the legal status of body armor in the United States and several other countries.
The article discusses the legal framework surrounding body armor in the United States, covering both federal and state laws. According to federal law, any law-abiding citizen aged 18 or above, with no violent crime convictions, can legally own and use body armor. Felons convicted of violent crimes may still acquire body armor with written permission from their employer, limited to professional duties.
The ability to purchase body armor varies across states. In all 50 states, face-to-face transactions are allowed, while all states except Connecticut permit online or phone purchases. No background checks, IDs, or permits are required for body armor purchases in any state.
Regarding the legal use of body armor, federal law generally allows law-abiding citizens to wear it in public areas. However, states have the authority to establish their own laws on body armor use. Some states may restrict wearing body armor in specific situations, such as during public parades or protests, near police stations, government buildings, or schools.
The article also touches on the right of businesses and citizens to prohibit body armor use on their premises, emphasizing the importance of checking workplace policies before wearing body armor to work.
Concealed body armor is addressed, highlighting that it can be legally worn in public if allowed. Concealable options like Wonder Hoodies, Bulletproof Pants, or Vests are recommended for everyday use to avoid drawing attention.
The article provides a state-by-state breakdown of additional restrictions or leniencies. Notable examples include Connecticut's strict laws, Louisiana's limitations on school grounds, Maryland's extended restrictions for drug trafficking convictions, and New York's recent legislation prohibiting the purchase of soft body armor vests.
Outside the U.S., the article covers Canada, the UK, Mexico, and the European Union. Canada allows the purchase and use of body armor, except in specific provinces, where certain qualifications are required. In the UK, there's no specific law against body armor, but its use may attract attention. Mexico generally allows body armor for protection, and the European Union considers it military armament, restricting civilian ownership in most cases.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the legal landscape surrounding body armor, addressing federal and state regulations in the U.S. and highlighting the diverse approaches taken by other countries.
