Body Armor Laws By State
Body armor, body armour, personal armor, or tactical gear is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks.
Specific Laws By State
ALABAMA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Alabama besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
ALASKA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Alaska besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
ARIZONA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Like most states, Arizona has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
ARKANSAS
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Possessing body armor is a Class A misdemeanor in Arkansas if you are convicted of manslaughter, murder, assault, aggravated robbery, or battery. This law doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
CALIFORNIA
There are no extra body armor regulations in California besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
COLORADO
There are no extra body armor regulations in Colorado besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut’s body armor laws are the strictest in the US. Body armor can only be bought and sold there in face-to-face transactions. This means any online seller of body armor is prohibited from selling to Connecticut residents.
Delivering or selling body armor to a Connecticut resident without personally meeting to complete the delivery or sale constitutes a Class B misdemeanor punishable by 6-month imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both.
People or entities exempt from this law include:
- Sworn members or authorized officials of the State Police, local police departments, Board of Parole or Pardons, and the Division of Criminal Justice;
- Authorized officials of the Department of Administrative Services or municipals who purchase body armor for agencies mentioned above;
- Armed forces or National Guard members;
- Authorized officials of the Judicial Branch who purchase body armor for probation offices.
DELAWARE
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Like most states, Delaware has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
FLORIDA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Like most states, Florida has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
GEORGIA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Georgia, like most states, has a law in place that makes wearing body armor illegal while trafficking drugs or during commission of violent crimes. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
HAWAII
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Like most states, Hawaii has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
IDAHO
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Like most states, Idaho has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
ILLINOIS
There are no additional body armor laws in Illinois in relation to retailers. Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Illinois except those with a felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online. However, individuals are not allowed to wear body armor when in possession of dangerous weapons other than firearms during attempted commission or commission of any offense. Unlawful body armor use is a Class A misdemeanor.
INDIANA
Anyone can buy and use body armor in Indiana except those with a felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online. People who intentionally or knowingly use body armor when committing a felony are committing unlawful body armor use, which is a Class D felony. The new law states that people who intentionally or knowingly use body armor when committing a felony commit unlawful body armor use, which is a Level 6 felony. The law doesn’t affect retailers, only individuals.
IOWA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Iowa besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can b bought face to face or online.
KANSAS
Anyone can buy and use a bulletproof vest and other body armor in Kansas except those with a felony conviction. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. In Topeka City, Kansas, it is not legal to carry, wear, or possess bulletproof vests during parades, rallies, demonstrations, assemblies, and protests. The statue doesn’t affect retailers.
KENTUCKY
There are no extra body armor regulations in Kentucky besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
LOUISIANA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MAINE
There are no extra body armor regulations in Maine besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MARYLAND
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vest and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Body armor laws in Maryland mandate that anyone with a prior conviction for drug trafficking or a crime or violence is out allowed to possess, purchase, or use bulletproof body armor without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police.
People with a prior conviction for drug trafficking or a crime of violence may, with good cause shown, file a petition with the Secretary for permit to purchase, possess, and use bulletproof body armor.
MASSACHUSETTS
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Massachusetts, like most states, has body armor laws that make it a felony to wear body armor when committing a crime.
MICHIGAN
There are no extra body armor regulations in Michigan besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MINNESOTA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Minnesota besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MISSISSIPPI
There are no extra body armor regulations in Mississippi besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MISSOURI
There are no extra body armor regulations in Missouri besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
MONTANA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Montana besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
NEBRASKA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Nebraska besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
NEVADA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Nevada besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
In New Hampshire, a person attempting to commit any felony while wearing or using body armor will be considered guilty of a Class B felony.
NEW JERSEY
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Wearing body armor while carrying out a criminal act constitutes a crime in itself in New Jersey and will result in separate criminal charges such as more fines and time served.
NEW MEXICO
There are no extra body armor regulations in New Mexico besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
NEW YORK
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
In New York, anyone wearing a body armor vest who commits a violent felony while possessing a firearm, shotgun, or rifle is guilty of unlawful wearing of a body vest. This offense alone is a Class E felony.
New York’s body armor laws are currently being debated. At the time of this writing, New York Bill A352 is in assembly committee on the senate floor. Bill A352 aims to completely prohibit buying and possessing a body armor vest in New York. If this bill is passed, anyone who buys or possesses a body armor vest in that state would be committing a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class E felony for a second offense.
Be aware that Bill A352 has not been delivered to the governor of New York and signed or vetoed. However, any resident of New York who owns or is looking to purchase a body armor vest should keep up to date on the progress of Bill A352.
NORTH CAROLINA
There are no extra body armor regulations in North Dakota besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
OHIO
There are no extra body armor regulations in Ohio besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
OKLAHOMA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online. Oklahoma, like most states, has body armor laws that make it a felony to wear body armor when committing a crime.
OREGON
There are no extra body armor regulations in Oregon besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
PENNSYLVANIA
There are no extra body armor regulations in Pennsylvania besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
RHODE ISLAND
Adults in Rhode Island can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with violent felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Adults in South Carolina can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with violent felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Like most states, South Carolina has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
SOUTH DAKOTA
There are no extra body armor regulations in South Dakota besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
TENNESSEE
Adults in Tennessee can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with violent felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Like most states, Tennessee has body armor laws that make it illegal (a Class E felony in this case) to wear body armor when committing a crime. This doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.
TEXAS
There are no extra body armor regulations in Texas besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
UTAH
There are no extra body armor regulations in Utah besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions.
VERMONT
There are no extra body armor regulations in Vermont besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
VIRGINIA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Anybody who commits a violent felony in Virginia and who has a knife or firearm in their possession while wearing body armor intended to minimize the effects of projectile or ballistic impacts will be guilty of a Class 4 felony. This law impacts individuals and not retailers.
WASHINGTON STATE
There are no extra body armor regulations in the state of Washington besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
WEST VIRGINIA
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Anybody wearing or equipped with body armor while committing a violent felony offense that contains an element of force–either the threat of force, inflicting physical harm, or presenting or using firearms or other deadly weapons– are guilty of a felony. This law impacts individuals and not retailers.
WISCONSIN
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Like most states, Wisconsin has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a felony. Doing so can constitute an additional felony conviction with extra time added to the resulting prison sentence. This law affects individuals and not retailers.
WYOMING
There are no extra body armor regulations in the state of Wyoming besides the federal laws. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests and other body armor, except adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
*WASHINGTON, D.C.
There are no extra body armor regulations in Washington, D.C. besides the federal laws. Bulletproof vests and other body armor are legal for adults to purchase and wear, with certain specific exceptions, e.g. adults with felony convictions. Body armor can be bought face to face or online.
Pertinent information by Robyn Blocker – January 06, 2022
