Body Armor Legality in the United States

We have put together a list of federal and state regulations regarding the possession and use of body armor. The goal of this article is to clarify questions about the legality of body armor and help individuals acquire this basic defensive equipment.

We will cover the legality of owning body armor in the United States starting from the federal level then down into each state. Keep in mind that laws and regulations are constantly changing so make sure to note the published date of this article.

Federal

On a federal level 18 U.S. CODE § 931 makes it unlawful for an individual to purchase, own, or possess body armor if they have been convicted of a violent felony. The law defines body armor as any product sold as personal protective body covering intended to protect against gunfire. This phrase means ballistic helmets and shields would also be included in the prohibition. Although this law was passed in 2002, there have been more attempts to prohibit ownership of body armor with HR4568 and HR3247 which have proposed to ban the ownership of all body armor of level III and higher for all individuals with the exception of the government’s own agencies and employees.

Alabama

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Alabama. Federal regulations still apply.

Alaska

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Alaska. Federal regulations still apply.

Arizona

Arizona 13-3116 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Arizona’s definition of body armor is “any clothing or equipment designed in whole or in part to minimize the risk of injury from a deadly weapon.” which is a wider definition then the federal definition of “intended to protect against gunfire.” Federal regulations still apply.

Arkansas

Arkansas 5-79-101 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

California

California 31360 makes it unlawful for violent felons and for anyone who is prohibited from owning firearms under the laws of California to purchase, own, or possess body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Colorado

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Colorado. Federal regulations still apply.

Connecticut

Connecticut legislative research report 2203-R-0301 summarizes the laws on body armor which includes making it unlawful for persons convicted of certain crimes to possess body armor, as well as requiring the transfer of body armor to be done in face-to-face transactions with individuals who possess certain permits. Federal regulations still apply.

Delaware

Delaware 11-1449 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Florida

Florida 775.0846 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while possessing a bullet proof vest. They explicity define a bullet proof vest as “bullet-resistant soft body armor”. Federal regulations still apply.

Georgia

Georgia 16-11-160 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while wearing a bulletproof vest. They explicity define a bullet proof vest as “bullet-resistant soft body armor”. Federal regulations still apply.

Idaho

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Idaho. Federal regulations still apply.

Illinois

Illinois 720 ILCS 5/33F makes it unlawful to wear body armor while in possession of certain dangerous weapons. Federal regulations still apply.

Indiana

Indiana 35-47-5-13 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while using body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Iowa

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Iowa. Federal regulations still apply.

Kansas

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Kansas with the exception of Topeka City 9.40.050 which makes it unlawful to carry, possess, or wear body armor during parades, demonstrations, rallies and assemblies. Federal regulations still apply.

Kentucky

Kentucky 533.065 prevents the granting of probation or any form of early release for persons who commit certain crimes while wearing body armor and possessing a deadly weapon. Federal regulations still apply.

Louisiana

Louisiana 14:95.9 makes it unlawful to wear body armor on school campuses or at school related activities. Federal regulations still apply.

Maine

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Maine. Federal regulations still apply.

Maryland

Maryland 4-106 makes it unlawful for all persons with a prior conviction for a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime to use, possess, or purchase body armor without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police. Federal regulations still apply.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts 269-10D makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Michigan

Michigan 750.227f and 750.227g make it unlawful to commit a violent crime while wearing body armor and prohibits the purchase, ownership, and possession of body armor for persons convicted of a violent felony. Federal regulations still apply.

Minnesota

Minnesota 609.486 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Mississippi

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Mississippi. Federal regulations still apply.

Missouri

Missouri 578.340 makes it unlawful for dangerous felons to own, possess, or purchase body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Montana

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Montana. Federal regulations still apply.

Nebraska

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Nebraska. Federal regulations still apply.

Nevada

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Nevada. Federal regulations still apply.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire 650-B:2 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

New Jersey

New Jersey 2C:39-13 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

New Mexico

There are no body armor regulations in the state of New Mexico. Federal regulations still apply.

New York

New York 396-eee makes it unlawful to sell or transfer body armor to any person in the state. New York 270.21 makes it unlawful to purchase or take possession of body armor. New York 270.20 makes it unlawful to commit a felony while possessing a firearm and wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

North Carolina

North Carolina 15A-1340.16C makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while possessing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

North Dakota

There are no body armor regulations in the state of North Dakota. Federal regulations still apply.

Ohio

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Ohio. Federal regulations still apply.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma 21-1289.26 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Oregon

Oregon 166.642 makes it unlawful for violent felons to possess body armor. Oregon 166.643 Makes it unlawful to commit violent crimes while possessing a deadly weapon and wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania 18.907 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while possessing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

South Carolina

South Carolina 16-3-1085 makes it unlawful for persons convicted of violent crimes to own body armor. South Carolina 16-3-1080 makes it unlawful to commit a violent crime while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

South Dakota

There are no body armor regulations in the state of South Dakota. Federal regulations still apply.

Tennessee

Tennessee 39-17-1323 makes it unlawful to commit certain crimes while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Texas

Texas 46.041 makes it unlawful for persons convicted of a felony to own body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Utah

Utah 76-3-203.7 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while possessing a dangerous weapon and wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Vermont

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Vermont. Federal regulations still apply.

Virginia

Virginia 18.2-287.2 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while possessing a firearm or knife and wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Washington

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Washington. Federal regulations still apply.

Washington D.C.

There are no body armor regulations in Washington District of Columbia. Federal regulations still apply.

West Virginia

West Virginia 61-7-15 makes it unlawful to commit a felony offense while wearing body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin 941.291 makes it unlawful for persons convicted of a felony offense to own body armor. Federal regulations still apply.

Wyoming

There are no body armor regulations in the state of Wyoming. Federal regulations still apply.