Body Armor Laws by State 2026: All 51 Jurisdictions

Owning body armor is lawful for an ordinary adult in 49 states. New York restricts it to eligible professions, and a federal ban reaches all 51.

Last verified 2026-08-26. Every legal claim on this page was re-fetched from the issuing legislature, agency or court on that date and matched against the bytes that came back. This date moves only when a check actually runs.

One answer, and the five questions it hides

Almost every chart on this subject answers one question – “is it legal to buy” – and answers it “yes, in 49 states” with a footnote. The record supports a much better page than that, because legal is doing at least five separate jobs here and they come apart:

May an ordinary adult own and wear it? In 49 states and the District of Columbia, yes, with no license and no registration. New York is the exception.
Is there a restriction on how you buy it? In two states. Connecticut requires an in-person sale and a state firearms permit. New York requires an in-person sale and an eligible profession.
Does a prior conviction bar you? Federally, yes, everywhere. Under state law, in 11 states – each on a different predicate.
Is using it during a crime an offense? In 26 jurisdictions. None of those restricts owning body armor, and this page never lets one color a jurisdiction as restricted.
Are there places you may not wear it? In one state: Louisiana bars it on school property and within 1,000 feet of a school campus, and that one applies to everybody.

And a sixth, which is really the first. The states do not agree on what body armor is. Among the 29 jurisdictions that define the term there are 17 distinct statutory tests, and three more use the term and never define it — 32 in all. Two states both said to “regulate body armor” are frequently regulating different objects.

50jurisdictions where state law places no restriction at all on an ordinary adult owning and wearing body armor, of 51

1jurisdiction where an ordinary adult may NOT take possession of it: New York, since 2022

17different statutory tests of what body armor even IS, among the 29 jurisdictions that define the term

11states that bar possession after certain convictions, on 11 different predicates

26jurisdictions where using it during a crime is an offense or an enhancement. None of those restricts owning it

40preemption statutes whose scope language I read. Not one of them names body armor

Jump to a jurisdiction

All 51 jurisdictions are written into this page already, so these links work with JavaScript turned off, and the address bar keeps whatever campaign parameters brought you here. Share any of them and the reader lands on the same jurisdiction.

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Body armor law in all 51 jurisdictions

Six columns because there are six questions. A cell saying a state has a “using it in a crime” provision is not a cell saying that state restricts ownership – read across, not down.

Jurisdiction	May an ordinary adult own it	Restriction on how you buy it	Barred by a prior conviction	Using it in a crime	Place restrictions	What the statute regulates
Alabama	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Alaska	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Arizona	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	minimizes injury from a deadly weapon
Arkansas	no state rule	no state rule	yes	none	none	bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body
California	no state rule	no state rule	yes	enhancement	none	bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection
Colorado	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Connecticut	no state rule	in person, permit	yes	none	none	bullet penetration resistance, in a vest-like garment
Delaware	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body
District of Columbia	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Florida	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	threat level I soft armor, spelled out
Georgia	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	threat level I soft armor, spelled out
Hawaii	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Idaho	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Illinois	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	named materials, plus a catch-all
Indiana	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	bullet resistant metal or other material against weapons or bodily injury
Iowa	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Kansas	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Kentucky	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	release bar	none	the term is used but never defined
Louisiana	no state rule	no state rule	yes	separate crime	yes	bullet resistant metal or other material against weapons or bodily injury
Maine	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Maryland	no state rule	no state rule	yes	separate crime	none	covers the body to prevent, deflect or slow ammunition
Massachusetts	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	named materials, plus a catch-all
Michigan	no state rule	no state rule	yes	separate crime	none	protects from injury caused by a firearm
Minnesota	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection
Mississippi	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Missouri	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Montana	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Nebraska	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Nevada	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	the term is used but never defined
New Hampshire	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection
New Jersey	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection
New Mexico	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	no state rule	none	no body armor statute
New York	eligible professions only	in person, profession	no state bar	separate crime	none	sold as protective body covering against gunfire
North Carolina	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	enhancement	none	the term is used but never defined
North Dakota	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Ohio	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	enhancement	none	a vest, helmet, shield or similar item diminishing a bullet impact
Oklahoma	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	a vest or shirt of ten plies or more
Oregon	no state rule	no state rule	yes	crime and aggravator	none	minimizes injury from a deadly weapon
Pennsylvania	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	named materials, plus a catch-all
Rhode Island	no state rule	no state rule	yes	none	none	sold as protective body covering against gunfire
South Carolina	no state rule	no state rule	yes	separate crime	none	protects from injury caused by a firearm
South Dakota	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Tennessee	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	threat level I soft armor, spelled out
Texas	no state rule	no state rule	yes	none	none	body covering manifestly designed to protect against gunfire
Utah	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	enhancement	none	bullet penetration resistance, or protection from a dangerous weapon
Vermont	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
Virginia	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	diminishes the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile
Washington	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute
West Virginia	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	separate crime	none	ballistic resistance to penetration and deformation of the torso
Wisconsin	no state rule	no state rule	yes	none	none	a garment adapted to prevent bullets penetrating
Wyoming	no state rule	no state rule	no state bar	none	none	no such statute

Body armor law by jurisdiction: ownership, purchase channel, prohibited persons, use during a crime, place restrictions and the statutory testFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

The federal layer: 18 U.S.C. 931

This is the only nationwide rule on body armor, it applies in all 51 jurisdictions, and it is the cell a reader is most likely to be caught by. It is also the one almost every chart in this market leaves out.

18 U.S.C. 931(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for a person to purchase, own, or possess body armor, if that person has been convicted of a felony that isthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Which convictions count

Not every felony. The predicate is a crime of violence as defined in 18 U.S.C. 16, which has two halves. The first is an elements test.

18 U.S.C. 16(a)an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of anotherthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

The second half, the residual clause at 18 U.S.C. 16(b), was held unconstitutionally vague by the Supreme Court in Sessions v. Dimaya in 2018. That narrows the federal predicate in substance to offenses where force is an element.

Sessions v. Dimaya, slip opinionAnd of course, this Court’s experience in deciding ACCA cases only supports the conclusion that §16(b) is too vague.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

The employment provision is a defense, not an exemption

Charts that mention it call it an exception. The statute does not. It is styled an affirmative defense, which the defendant carries at trial: it does not make the purchase lawful in advance. And it has a paperwork requirement that must be satisfied before the purchase, use or possession, not after.

18 U.S.C. 931(b)(1)(A)the defendant obtained prior written certification from his or her employer that the defendant’s purchase, use, or possession of body armor was necessary for the safe performance of lawful business activitythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Who signs it is unusual. The statute defines the employer for this purpose as another employee of the same business who supervises the defendant, and where there is no supervisor, any other employee of that business.

18 U.S.C. 931(b)(2)the term “employer” means any other individual employed by the defendant’s business that supervises defendant’s activitythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

What the federal statute means by body armor

Section 931 borrows its definition from the firearms chapter. It is a market-and-purpose test, not a performance test: a soft concealable vest and a rifle-rated hard plate are the same thing under it, and stab-only armor is outside it because the words are against gunfire.

18 U.S.C. 921(a)(35)The term “body armor” means any product sold or offered for sale, in interstate or foreign commerce, as personal protective body covering intended to protect against gunfirethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Read the commerce words carefully. Section 931 itself contains no interstate-commerce element. The commerce hook sits inside the definition, and it asks whether the PRODUCT was sold or offered for sale in interstate or foreign commerce. It does not ask whether your particular vest crossed a state line, and it is wrong to state the element that way.

And a federal sentencing enhancement, separately

U.S.S.G. 3B1.5 adds two or four offense levels where body armor was used in a drug trafficking crime or a crime of violence. Like every provision in the “using it in a crime” column on this page, it restricts nothing about owning armor.

U.S.S.G. 3B1.5the defendant used body armor during the commission of the offense, in preparation for the offense, or in an attempt to avoid apprehension for the offense, increase bythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

There is no federal purchase rule

For an ordinary citizen there is no federal dealer license, no background check, no age limit, no record-keeping and no bar on mail order or online sale of body armor. The federal licensing statute reaches firearms and ammunition and stops there.

18 U.S.C. 923(a)No person shall engage in the business of importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms, or importing or manufacturing ammunition, until he has filed an application with and received a license to do so from the Attorney Generalthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Export is a different matter and IS federally controlled. This page covers domestic possession, purchase and use only.

The eleven states that bar possession after a conviction

This is a separate layer from the federal bar, with its own predicate in each state. A person can be barred federally and not by their state, or the reverse. One does not answer the other, and this page never implies it does. The predicates below are the statutes’ own words, not my summary of them.

State	The predicate, in the statute own words	Statute	Any way back
Arkansas	found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, one of seven named offenses	Ark. Code § 5-79-101(a)	not provided for in the statute
California	convicted of a violent felony, and separately anyone barred from possessing a firearm	Cal. Penal Code § 31360(a), (b)(1)	not provided for in the statute
Connecticut	convicted of a capital felony, a class A, B or C felony (with named exceptions) or one of a list of class D felonies, or adjudicated for a serious juvenile offense	Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217d(a)	not provided for in the statute
Louisiana	convicted of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) which is a felony, or one of a list of burglary, weapons and controlled-substance offenses	La. R.S. 14:95.3(A)(1)	not provided for in the statute
Maryland	previously convicted of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime	Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-107(a)	a permit or written permission
Michigan	convicted of a violent felony, defined by an enumerated list of Michigan Penal Code sections	MCL 750.227g(1)	a permit or written permission
Oregon	convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence	ORS 166.642(1)(a)	not provided for in the statute
Rhode Island	convicted of a felony that is a crime of violence, defined by an exhaustive enumerated list	R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.4(a)	not provided for in the statute
South Carolina	convicted of a violent crime as defined in section 16-1-60	S.C. Code § 16-3-1085(A)	a permit or written permission
Texas	convicted of a felony – ANY felony, with no violence or category limitation	Tex. Penal Code § 46.041(b)	not provided for in the statute
Wisconsin	convicted of a violent felony, defined by a long enumerated list of statute sections	Wis. Stat. § 941.291(2)	a court-granted exemption

State-law prohibited-person rules and the predicate offense each one namesFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

Texas is the outlier and it is not close. Every other state names violent crimes, an enumerated list, or a felony class. Texas bars a person convicted of a felony – any felony, with no category limitation at all. Tex. Penal Code 46.041(b)

And relief looks different in every one. Maryland issues a state permit through the State Police. Michigan and South Carolina hand it to the local chief of police or county sheriff, who may restrict it however they think appropriate. Wisconsin is the only state where it is a court that grants the exemption. Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Oregon, Rhode Island and Texas provide no route back in the statute at all.

Using it during a crime is not a restriction on owning it

This is the most common cell on the page and the most commonly misread. 26 jurisdictions make wearing or using body armor during an offense either a separate crime or a sentence enhancement. Every one of those provisions is about what you did with it, not about whether you may have it. Leaving them off would also be wrong, so they are here – in their own column, plainly labeled, and never as a warning color.

State	What kind of provision	Statute	Does it restrict owning body armor
Arizona	separate offense	A.R.S. § 13-3116(A)	No
California	sentence enhancement	Cal. Penal Code § 12022.2(b)	No
Delaware	separate offense	11 Del. C. § 1449	No
Florida	separate offense	Fla. Stat. § 775.0846(2)	No
Georgia	separate offense	O.C.G.A. § 16-11-160	No
Illinois	separate offense	720 ILCS 5/33F-2	No
Indiana	separate offense	IC 35-47-5-13(b)	No
Kentucky	release restriction	KRS 533.065	No
Louisiana	separate offense	La. R.S. 14:95.3(B)	No
Maryland	separate offense	Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-106	No
Massachusetts	separate offense	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10D	No
Michigan	separate offense	MCL 750.227f(1)	No
Minnesota	separate offense	Minn. Stat. § 609.486	No
New Hampshire	separate offense	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 650-B:2	No
New Jersey	separate offense	N.J.S.A. 2C:39-13	No
New York	separate offense	N.Y. Penal Law § 270.20(1)	No
North Carolina	sentence enhancement	N.C.G.S. § 15A-1340.16C(a)	No
Ohio	sentence enhancement	ORC 2929.14(B)(1)(d)	No
Oklahoma	separate offense	21 O.S. § 1289.26	No
Oregon	separate offense and sentencing aggravator	ORS 166.643 and ORS 137.090(3)	No
Pennsylvania	separate offense	18 Pa.C.S. § 907(c)	No
South Carolina	separate offense	S.C. Code § 16-3-1080(A)	No
Tennessee	separate offense	Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1323	No
Utah	sentence enhancement	Utah Code § 76-3-203.7(2)	No
Virginia	separate offense	Va. Code § 18.2-287.2	No
West Virginia	separate offense	W. Va. Code § 61-7-15(a)	No

Provisions about using body armor during an offense, and what they restrictFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

Three of these are not what they look like. Kentucky’s is neither a crime nor an enhancement: it bars probation, parole and early release. Illinois’ offense requires a dangerous weapon other than a firearm. Wisconsin has no such offense at all – its only related provision requires a sentencing court to warn a violent felon about the possession ban.

What each statute actually regulates

This is the measurement-basis problem, and on this subject it is sharper than the numbers. A state that regulates a body vest and a state that regulates body armor are not regulating the same object. Among the 29 jurisdictions that define the term there are 17 distinct statutory tests, and three more use the term and never define it at all — 32 in all.

What the statute measures	Jurisdictions	Why it matters
bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection	CA, MN, NH, NJ	A performance test naming both ballistic and blunt-trauma protection.
bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body	AR, CT (second definition), DE	A design test: any material worn on the body that resists bullet penetration.
named materials, plus a catch-all	IL, MA, PA	A material specification – polyaramid fibre, resin-treated glass fibre, Kevlar – with a catch-all clause. Two of these reach knives and other weapons, not only ammunition.
the term is used but never defined	KY, NV, NC	The statute uses the term and supplies no test at all.
threat level I soft armor, spelled out	FL, GA, TN	The statute regulates SOFT armor meeting a 1970s-era level I standard, written out as seven layers stopping three .38 rounds. On its face this test does not describe a rifle-rated hard plate.
bullet resistant metal or other material against weapons or bodily injury	IN, LA	A material-and-purpose test that reaches protection from bodily injury generally.
minimizes injury from a deadly weapon	AZ, OR	The broadest family: not tied to bullets at all, but to any deadly weapon.
protects from injury caused by a firearm	MI, SC	Tied to firearms specifically, by purpose rather than performance.
sold as protective body covering against gunfire	NY, RI	A market-and-purpose test taken from the federal definition. It reaches anything sold as protection from gunfire, soft or hard, and does not reach stab-only armor.
a garment adapted to prevent bullets penetrating	WI	A garment test, which on its face reaches clothing that has been modified.
a vest or shirt of ten plies or more	OK	The only test in the country measured in PLIES of material.
a vest, helmet, shield or similar item diminishing a bullet impact	OH	The only test that expressly names HELMETS and SHIELDS as well as vests.
ballistic resistance to penetration and deformation of the torso	WV	The only test that names deformation as well as penetration, and the only one limited to the torso.
body covering manifestly designed to protect against gunfire	TX	A design-intent test with a ‘manifestly’ qualifier that narrows it.
bullet penetration resistance, in a vest-like garment	CT	The same design test, narrowed to something worn like an article of clothing.
bullet penetration resistance, or protection from a dangerous weapon	UT	Two alternative limbs, so it is satisfied either way.
covers the body to prevent, deflect or slow ammunition	MD	A coverage-plus-effect test that reaches an object worn on ANY part of the body.
diminishes the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile	VA	Stated inline in the offense rather than in a definitions subsection.

The statutory tests: what each definition actually measuresFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

The three states that still regulate soft armor only

Florida, Georgia and Tennessee define the regulated object as a bullet-resistant soft body armor at a level I standard, and they write the standard out: at least seven layers, stopping three .38 calibre rounds. On its face that describes a concealable vest and does not describe a rifle-rated hard plate.

Florida, section 775.0846(1)“bulletproof vest” means a bullet-resistant soft body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as “threat level I,”the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Georgia, O.C.G.A. 16-11-160(a)(2)(A)‘Bulletproof vest’ means a bullet-resistant soft body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as ‘threat level I,’the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Tennessee, section 39-17-1323(b)For purposes of this section, a “body vest” means a bullet-resistant soft armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as threat level ITennessee Code Unannotated – Free Public Access (the State’s contracted free public-access edition), Title 39 › Chapter 17 › Part 13. Read through a browser on a residential connection because this publisher would not serve this build directly. Result URLs on this host are session-scoped, so this quote cannot be re-fetched from a stable address. The offense itself is corroborated on the General Assembly’s own site by claim tn-conduct.

New York had the same definition and replaced it, on the record, for exactly this reason. Until 2022 New York regulated a “body vest” on the same level I soft-armor test. The bill that changed it says in the sponsor’s own memorandum why.

New York, the definition as it stood before 2022a bullet-resistant soft body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as threat level I which shall mean at leastthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the sponsor’s memorandum on the amending billDuring the mass shooting in Buffalo, the shooter was wearing a steel-plated vest which would not have been captured under the existing body vest definition.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the same memorandum, on what the amendment didThis bill changes ”body vest” to ”body armor” in order to apply to a broader array of protective equipment that is bullet resistant.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

We are not saying Florida, Georgia or Tennessee would fail to reach a plate carrier in a given prosecution; that is a question for a court reading its own state’s statute, and none of the three has told us otherwise. We are saying what the enacted words are, and that New York’s legislature identified the same words as a gap and changed them.

The definitions that reach further than you would expect

Ohio is the only one that expressly names helmets and shields, not only vests. ORC 2941.1411(B)
Oklahoma is the only one measured in plies of material. 21 O.S. 1289.19(2)
Arizona and Oregon are not tied to bullets at all: their test is anything designed to minimize the risk of injury from a deadly weapon. A.R.S. 13-3116(C)
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania reach protection against knives and other weapons as well as ammunition, and both name specific materials. 18 Pa.C.S. 907(d)
Maryland reaches an object worn on any part of the body, not a garment. Crim. Law 4-106(a)(3)
Connecticut has two different definitions of the same term, and the narrower one – limited to something worn like an article of clothing – is the one that governs its sale rule. section 53-341b(c)
North Carolina, Kentucky and Nevada use a term and supply no test whatsoever. N.C.G.S. 15A-1340.16C
Virginia has no definitions subsection: the test sits inline in the offense. Va. Code 18.2-287.2

The NIJ standard, and why a level name in a statute may be stale

Several statutes describe what they regulate by protection level. The level names are not fixed: the National Institute of Justice revised its body armor standard in 2023 and renamed them. So a statute that names a level is speaking the vocabulary of whichever standard was current when it was drafted, and this page never silently translates one into the other.

NIJ Standard-0101.06, published July 2008This document, NIJ Standard–0101.06, “Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor,” is a minimum performance standard developed in collaboration with the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES)the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

NIJ, on the 2023 standardIt is a revision of National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, published in 2008.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

NIJ Standard 0123.00, on the renamingNIJ Level II and NIJ Level IIIA have been replaced with “NIJ HG1” and “NIJ HG2,” respectively, to represent handgun (HG) threats.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Under 0101.06 (2008)	Under 0101.07 and 0123.00 (2023)
Level II	HG1
Level IIIA	HG2
Level III	RF1
Level IV	RF3
no counterpart	RF2, a new intermediate rifle level

NIJ protection level names before and after the 2023 revisionFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

What we will not say. We searched both standards and NIJ’s own pages for a statement that the old and new levels are not equivalent, and NIJ does not say that. NIJ presents the change as a replacement, level for level. What is true is narrower and I state only that: RF1 replaced level III but its test threats were expanded, so a level III listing and an RF1 listing were not tested against the same set of threats.

NIJ, on the older compliant products listthe NIJ Compliance Testing Program anticipates maintaining the 0101.06 Compliant Products List through at least the end of calendar year 2029the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

No statute in this survey cites the current standard

Three jurisdictions name a standard NUMBER anywhere in their law, and every one of the three names a superseded standard. Illinois and Minnesota name NIJ Standard 0101.03, in police vest statutes that restrict nothing. Pennsylvania names NILECJ-STD-0101.01, from 1978, and it does so in its armor-piercing AMMUNITION definition rather than its body armor definition. West Virginia names the National Institute of Justice program with no standard number at all, in a deputy-sheriff procurement rule.

18 Pa.C.S. 6121(d), on armor-piercing ammunitionis determined to be capable of penetrating bullet-resistant apparel or body armor meeting the requirements of Type IIA of Standard NILECJ-STD-0101.01 as formulated by the United States Department of Justicethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Florida, Georgia and Tennessee describe a level by NAME rather than by standard number, and they spell the level out in the statute itself. Those three are covered in the definitions section below, because what they spell out is the sharpest finding on this page.

A retailer refusing to ship is not a law

Large retailers decline to ship body armor into particular states, and charts in this market quietly convert that into “illegal here”. It is not. A shipping policy is a commercial decision by a private company; it creates no offense, carries no penalty, and can change tomorrow without any legislature doing anything.

Everything on this page comes from a statute, an agency rule or a court record. Where I could not source a purchase-channel restriction to enacted law, it is not on this page at all. Two states have one that we could source: Connecticut and New York, and both are printed with the statute. If you have been told you cannot buy body armor in some third state, the thing to check is whether the seller is describing a law or describing its own policy.

The same distinction, one step further. Not enforced is not legal, and not sold is not illegal. They are opposite errors and both are common here.

Local rules: the opposite of the position for firearms

For firearms, a state preemption statute usually settles whether a city can be stricter. For body armor it usually does not, because these statutes preempt local regulation of firearms, ammunition, components and accessories – and body armor is none of those. We read the scope language of 40 preemption statutes for this page. Not one of them names body armor.

That does not mean any particular city has an ordinance. It means the usual assumption – that the state statute has already answered the question – does not hold here, and the local layer on this subject is wider than it is for firearms, not narrower.

State	Preemption statute I read	Does its scope language name body armor
Arizona	A.R.S. § 13-3108(A)	No
Arkansas	Ark. Code § 14-16-504(b)(1)(A)	No
California	Cal. Gov. Code § 53071	No
Colorado	C.R.S. § 29-11.7-103	No
Delaware	22 Del. C. § 111(a) and 9 Del. C. § 330(c)	No
Florida	Fla. Stat. § 790.33(1)	No
Georgia	O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(b)(1)(B)	No
Idaho	Idaho Code § 18-3302J(2)	No
Illinois	430 ILCS 65/13.1(b)	No
Indiana	IC 35-47-11.1-2	No
Iowa	Iowa Code § 724.28(2)	No
Kansas	K.S.A. 12-16,124(a)	No
Kentucky	KRS 65.870(1)	No
Louisiana	La. R.S. 40:1796(A)	No
Maine	25 M.R.S. § 2011(1)	No
Maryland	Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-209(a)	No
Michigan	MCL 123.1102	No
Minnesota	Minn. Stat. § 471.633	No
Missouri	RSMo 21.750.1	No
Montana	MCA 45-8-351(1)	No
Nebraska	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-330(2)(a)	No
Nevada	NRS 244.364(1)(a)	No
New Hampshire	N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:26, I	No
North Carolina	N.C.G.S. § 14-409.40(b)	No
North Dakota	N.D.C.C. § 62.1-01-03(1)	No
Ohio	ORC 9.68(A)	No
Oklahoma	21 O.S. § 1289.24(A)(1)	No
Oregon	ORS 166.170(1)	No
Pennsylvania	18 Pa.C.S. § 6120(a)	No
Rhode Island	R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-58	No
South Carolina	S.C. Code § 23-31-510(1)	No
South Dakota	SDCL 9-19-20 and 7-18A-36	No
Texas	Tex. Local Gov’t Code § 229.001(a)(1)(A)	No
Utah	Utah Code § 53-5a-102(4)	No
Vermont	24 V.S.A. § 2295	No
Virginia	Va. Code § 15.2-915(A)	No
Washington	RCW 9.41.290	No
West Virginia	W. Va. Code § 8-12-5a(a)	No
Wisconsin	Wis. Stat. § 66.0409(2)	No
Wyoming	Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-401(c)	No

Preemption statutes read for this page, and whether their scope names body armorFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

Every jurisdiction, one at a time

Each section answers the same six questions and prints the statute’s own words where there are any. Where I could not establish something, it says so.

Alabama AL

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: Whole-code search on the Alabama Legislature’s own ALISON system for body armor, bulletproof and bullet-resistant: no matching sections. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Alabama, see Alabama gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Alaska AK

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: Chapter-by-chapter sweep of Alaska Statutes titles 11 and 12 through the Legislature’s own print view: 43 chapters retrieved, 891,724 characters read, zero occurrences of body armor, bulletproof, bullet-resistant or body vest, against a control term firearm that was found 65 times in the same text. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Alaska, see Alaska gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Arizona AZ

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Misconduct involving body armor is itself a class 4 felony. A.R.S. § 13-3116(A)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: minimizes injury from a deadly weapon (body armor) A.R.S. § 13-3116(C)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read A.R.S. § 13-3108(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Section-heading scan of all 49 A.R.S. title indexes; § 13-3116 is the only body armor heading in the code. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person commits misconduct involving body armor by knowingly wearing or otherwise using body armor during the commission of any felony offense.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans any clothing or equipment designed in whole or in part to minimize the risk of injury from a deadly weapon.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Arizona, see Arizona gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Arkansas AR

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, one of seven named offenses Ark. Code § 5-79-101(a)
How the bar is lifted: Capital murder, first- and second-degree murder, manslaughter, aggravated robbery, first-degree battery, aggravated assault. A Class A misdemeanor.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body (body armor) Ark. Code § 5-79-101(b)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Ark. Code § 14-16-504(b)(1)(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from the enacting act (Act 1449 of 1999) on the Arkansas General Assembly’s own site; the compiled Arkansas Code is published only through a script-driven viewer. what I searched

the possession barNo person may possess body armor if that person has been found guilty of or has pled guilty or nolo contendere to any of the following offenses:the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“body armor” means any material designed to be worn on the body and to provide bullet penetration resistance.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Arkansas, see Arkansas gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

California CA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a violent felony, and separately anyone barred from possessing a firearm Cal. Penal Code § 31360(a), (b)(1)
How the bar is lifted: The predicate is the enumerated list in Penal Code § 667.5(c), imported by § 17320.
Using it in a crime: sentence enhancement. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. One, two or five additional years for wearing a body vest during a violent offense. Cal. Penal Code § 12022.2(b)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection (body armor) Cal. Penal Code § 16288
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Cal. Gov. Code § 53071 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code keyword search on California Legislative Information for body armor: 12 sections, of which only § 31360 reaches a person. what I searched

the possession barA person who has been convicted of a violent felony under the laws of the United States, the State of California, or any other state, government, or country, who purchases, owns, or possesses body armor, as defined in Section 16288the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, definedrefers to the specific crimes listed in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, and to crimes defined under the applicable laws of the United Statesthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimemeans any bullet-resistant material intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection for the wearer.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans any bullet-resistant material intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection for the person wearing the body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

California is the one state whose definition was rewritten because a court struck the old one down as unconstitutionally vague.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in California, see California gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Colorado CO

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read C.R.S. § 29-11.7-103 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of the complete Colorado Revised Statutes, both the 2024 title PDFs and the 2026 HTML set published by the General Assembly: zero occurrences. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Colorado, see Colorado gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Connecticut CT

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, but there is a restriction on how you may buy it, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: in person, and the buyer must hold a firearms permit
Barred by conviction: convicted of a capital felony, a class A, B or C felony (with named exceptions) or one of a list of class D felonies, or adjudicated for a serious juvenile offense Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217d(a)
How the bar is lifted: Connecticut states the bar by felony CLASS, not by a ‘crime of violence’ label.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet penetration resistance, in a vest-like garment (body armor) Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-341b(c)
And a second definition: bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body (body armor) Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217d(b)
Can a locality be stricter: We found no preemption statute at all, so nothing stops a locality regulating this.
How I checked this: Read directly from the General Assembly’s own published chapters 946 and 952. what I searched

the possession barconvicted of a capital felony under the provisions of section 53a-54b in effect prior to April 25, 2012, a class A felony, except a conviction under section 53a-196a, a class B felony, except a conviction under section 53a-86, 53a-122 or 53a-196bthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesAs used in this section, “body armor” means any item designed to provide bullet penetration resistance and to be worn on or under clothing on the body, like a vest or other article of clothing.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

and the second definitionFor the purposes of this section, “body armor” means any material designed to be worn on the body and to provide bullet penetration resistancethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Connecticut has TWO different definitions of the same term, and the one that governs the sale rule is the narrower of the two.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Connecticut, see Connecticut gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Delaware DE

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A class B felony with a three-year minimum that may not be suspended. 11 Del. C. § 1449
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet penetration resistance, worn on the body (body armor) 11 Del. C. § 1449(e)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 22 Del. C. § 111(a) and 9 Del. C. § 330(c) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text sweep of the whole of Delaware Code title 11: § 1449 is the only body armor provision. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person who wears body armor during the commission of a felony is guilty of wearing body armor during the commission of a felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesAs used in this section, the term “body armor” means any material designed to provide bullet penetration resistance.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Delaware, see Delaware gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

District of Columbia DC

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Not applicable – there are no subordinate localities here.
How I checked this: Full-text sweep of every chapter of D.C. Code titles 7 and 22: zero occurrences of the term. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in District of Columbia, see District of Columbia gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Florida FL

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A third-degree felony, on a list of enumerated offenses. Fla. Stat. § 775.0846(2)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: threat level I soft armor, spelled out (bulletproof vest) Fla. Stat. § 775.0846(1)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Fla. Stat. § 790.33(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from the Florida Legislature’s own published section. what I searched

using it during a crimeNo person may possess a bulletproof vest while, acting alone or with one or more other persons, he or she commits or attempts to commit any murder, sexual battery, robberythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“bulletproof vest” means a bullet-resistant soft body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as “threat level I,”the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Florida, see Florida gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Georgia GA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. One to five years, consecutive, on a list of enumerated offenses. O.C.G.A. § 16-11-160
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: threat level I soft armor, spelled out (bulletproof vest) O.C.G.A. § 16-11-160(a)(2)(A)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read O.C.G.A. § 16-11-173(b)(1)(B) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from a General Assembly bill document that reproduces the existing Code section in full; Georgia publishes its compiled Code only through a script-driven viewer. what I searched

using it during a crimeIt shall be unlawful for any person to wear a bulletproof vest during the commission or the attempted commission of any of the following offenses:the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates‘Bulletproof vest’ means a bullet-resistant soft body armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as ‘threat level I,’the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Georgia, see Georgia gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Hawaii HI

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: Whole-code search of the Hawaii Revised Statutes on the Legislature’s own search system: body armor and bulletproof each return no HRS sections, against a control search for firearm that returns 154. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Hawaii, see Hawaii gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Idaho ID

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Idaho Code § 18-3302J(2) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Section-heading scan of all 74 Idaho Code title indexes and 1,472 chapter pages: no body armor heading anywhere. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Idaho, see Idaho gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Illinois IL

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A Class A misdemeanor, then a Class 4 felony. Note the offense requires a dangerous weapon OTHER THAN A FIREARM. 720 ILCS 5/33F-2
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: named materials, plus a catch-all (body armor) 720 ILCS 5/33F-1(a)(2)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 430 ILCS 65/13.1(b) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search of the Illinois Compiled Statutes: seven documents, none regulating purchase or possession. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person commits the offense of unlawful use of body armor when he knowingly wears body armor and is in possession of a dangerous weapon, other than a firearm, in the commission or attempted commission of any offense.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesSoft body armor which is made of Kevlar or any other similar material or metal or any other type of insert and which is lightweight and pliable and which can be easily concealed under a shirt.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

A separate, non-restrictive Illinois act naming NIJ Standard 0101.03 exists; it is a police vest grant statute and restricts nothing.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Illinois, see Illinois gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Indiana IN

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A Level 6 felony. IC 35-47-5-13(b)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet resistant metal or other material against weapons or bodily injury (body armor) IC 35-47-5-13(a)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read IC 35-47-11.1-2 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of the complete official 2025 Indiana Code bulk download; the only body armor sections are § 35-47-5-13 and police-equipment provisions. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person who knowingly or intentionally uses body armor while committing a felony commits unlawful use of body armor, a Level 6 felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“body armor” means bullet resistant metal or other material worn by a person to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Indiana, see Indiana gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Iowa IA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Iowa Code § 724.28(2) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of all 1,870 chapter PDFs of the Iowa Code 2026: zero occurrences of body armor, bulletproof or bullet-resistant. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Iowa, see Iowa gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Kansas KS

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read K.S.A. 12-16,124(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search on the Kansas Legislature’s own system: zero statute sections for body armor, bullet resistant, bulletproof vest or ballistic. what I searched

Kansas bars convicted felons from possessing a ‘weapon’, and the same section defines a weapon as a firearm or a knife.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Kansas, see Kansas gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Kentucky KY

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: release restriction. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Not a crime and not an enhancement: it bars probation, parole and early release where the person wore body armor AND was armed with a deadly weapon. KRS 533.065
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: the term is used but never defined (body armor) KRS 533.065
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read KRS 65.870(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: KRS chapter 527, the weapons-offenses chapter, contains no body armor section; the only KRS provision using the term is the release restriction. what I searched

using it during a crimeand who was wearing body armor and was armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the offense shall not be granted probation, shock probation, parole, conditional discharge, or any other form of early release.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesand who was wearing body armor and was armed with a deadly weapon at the time of the offense shall not be granted probation, shock probation, parole, conditional discharge, or any other form of early release.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Charts routinely cite KRS 527.070 as Kentucky’s body armor statute. It is the school-weapons statute and says nothing about armor.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Kentucky, see Kentucky gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Louisiana LA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) which is a felony, or one of a list of burglary, weapons and controlled-substance offenses La. R.S. 14:95.3(A)(1)
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. La. R.S. 14:95.3(B)
Where you may not wear it: school property, school transportation, school-sponsored functions and within 1,000 feet of a school campus This one applies to EVERYONE, not only to a prohibited person. There are exceptions, including 24 hours’ written notice to the principal, private property inside the zone, and a student carrying a bullet-resistant backpack. La. R.S. 14:95.9(A)
What the law regulates: bullet resistant metal or other material against weapons or bodily injury (body armor) La. R.S. 14:95.3(D)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read La. R.S. 40:1796(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from the Louisiana Legislature’s own published sections. what I searched

the possession barIt is unlawful for any person to possess body armor who has been convicted of any of the following:the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, definedA crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) which is a felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimeNo person shall use or wear body armor while committing any of the crimes enumerated in Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a) through (i) of this Section.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

where it may not be wornWearing or possessing body armor, by a student or nonstudent on school property, at a school-sponsored function, or in a firearm-free zone is unlawfulthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesFor the purposes of this Section, “body armor” shall mean bullet resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Louisiana, see Louisiana gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Maine ME

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 25 M.R.S. § 2011(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of the Revisor’s official PDFs for titles 15, 17, 17-A, 25 and 30-A: zero occurrences. Maine publishes no working whole-code search. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Maine, see Maine gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Maryland MD

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: previously convicted of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-107(a)
How the bar is lifted: A permit from the Secretary of State Police lifts the bar; it is a restoration mechanism for the barred class, not a license anyone else needs.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Note the asymmetry: WEARING it in a crime of violence, but wearing OR POSSESSING it in a drug trafficking crime. Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-106
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: covers the body to prevent, deflect or slow ammunition (bulletproof body armor) Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-106(a)(3)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-209(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from the Maryland General Assembly’s own statute text, corroborated by the Maryland State Police’s own permit page. what I searched

the possession bara person who was previously convicted of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime may not use, possess, or purchase bulletproof body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, defined“Crime of violence” has the meaning stated in § 14-101 of this article.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

how the bar is liftedthe Secretary may issue to the petitioner a permit to purchase, possess, and use bulletproof body armor under the terms, conditions, and limitations that the Secretary sets as appropriatethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimeA person may not wear or possess bulletproof body armor during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“Bulletproof body armor” means a material or object that is designed to cover or be worn on any part of the body to prevent, deflect, or slow down the penetration of ammunition.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Maryland, see Maryland gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Massachusetts MA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. One to five years. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10D
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: named materials, plus a catch-all (body armor, so-called) Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, § 10D
Can a locality be stricter: We found no preemption statute at all, so nothing stops a locality regulating this.
How I checked this: Whole-code search of the Massachusetts General Laws: exactly one section, ch. 269 § 10D. what I searched

using it during a crimeWhoever, while in the commission or attempted commission of a felony, uses or wears any body armor, so-called, or any protective covering for the body or any parts thereofthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmade of resin-treated glass-fiber cloth, or of any other material or combination of materials, designed to prevent, deflect or deter the penetration thereof by ammunition, knives or other weaponsthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Massachusetts, see Massachusetts gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Michigan MI

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a violent felony, defined by an enumerated list of Michigan Penal Code sections MCL 750.227g(1)
How the bar is lifted: Relief is a written permission from the LOCAL CHIEF OF POLICE, or the county sheriff where there is no police department, and it may be restricted in any manner that officer thinks appropriate.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Up to four years, servable consecutively. MCL 750.227f(1)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: protects from injury caused by a firearm (body armor) MCL 750.227f(3)(a)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read MCL 123.1102 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search of the Michigan Compiled Laws: three sections, being the two offenses and a sentencing-grid entry. what I searched

the possession barExcept as otherwise provided in this section, a person who has been convicted of a violent felony shall not purchase, own, possess, or use body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, definedmeans an offense against a person in violation of section 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 316, 317, 321, 349, 349a, 350, 397, 520b, 520c, 520d, 520e, 520g, 529, 529a, or 530 of the Michigan penal codethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

how the bar is liftedmay petition the chief of police of the local unit of government in which he or she resides or, if he or she does not reside in a local unit of government that has a police department, the county sheriffthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimean individual who commits or attempts to commit a crime that involves a violent act or a threat of a violent act against another person while wearing body armor is guilty of a felonythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans clothing or a device designed or intended to protect an individual’s body or a portion of an individual’s body from injury caused by a firearm.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Michigan, see Michigan gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Minnesota MN

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A stand-alone felony, punishable in addition to the underlying crime. Minn. Stat. § 609.486
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection (bullet-resistant vest) Minn. Stat. § 609.486
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Minn. Stat. § 471.633 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search on the Revisor’s own system: five sections, of which only § 609.486 is restrictive. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person who commits or attempts to commit a gross misdemeanor or felony while wearing or possessing a bullet-resistant vest is guilty of a felonythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesAs used in this section, “bullet-resistant vest” means a bullet-resistant garment that provides ballistic and trauma protection.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Minnesota’s peace-officer vest reimbursement statute names NIJ Standard 0101.03; it restricts nothing.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Minnesota, see Minnesota gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Mississippi MS

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: The Mississippi Judiciary’s own master list of every criminal offense and its code section, updated 7 August 2026: zero occurrences of armor, bullet or ballistic across 132,848 characters, against controls of 37 for weapon and 6 for firearm. This enumerates CRIMINAL offenses only. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Mississippi, see Mississippi gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Missouri MO

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read RSMo 21.750.1 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code full-text search on the Revisor of Statutes’ own system: no matches for body armor or ballistic. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Missouri, see Missouri gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Montana MT

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read MCA 45-8-351(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Catchline scan of all 4,063 parts of the MCA plus the full text of all 390 sections of title 45: zero occurrences. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Montana, see Montana gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Nebraska NE

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Neb. Rev. Stat. § 13-330(2)(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code keyword search on the Legislature’s own system: no matches for body armor or bulletproof. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Nebraska, see Nebraska gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Nevada NV

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: the term is used but never defined (bulletproof vests) NRS 332.115(6)(b)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read NRS 244.364(1)(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search on the Nevada Legislature’s own NRS search: two hits in one document, that document being the purchasing chapter. what I searched

what the statute regulatesincludes, without limitation, firearms, boots, bulletproof vests or other typesthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Nevada, see Nevada gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

New Hampshire NH

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A class B felony, and the sentence may not be served concurrently with any other. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 650-B:2
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection (body armor) N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 650-B:1
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:26, I and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Merged full-text chapter files for every chapter of RSA titles XII and LXII, 152 files: chapter 650-B is the only match. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person is guilty of a class B felony if he commits or attempts to commit any felony while using or wearing body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesIn this chapter, “body armor” means any device designed to be worn on the body which is bullet resistant and is designed and intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in New Hampshire, see New Hampshire gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

New Jersey NJ

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A crime of the second or third degree depending on the circumstances. N.J.S.A. 2C:39-13
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet-resistant, giving ballistic and trauma protection (body vest) N.J.S.A. 2C:39-13
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: New Jersey’s statute database refused this build on both routes. The scope of current law is taken from the Office of Legislative Services’ own statement on a 2022 bill that would have CREATED possession and registration rules, and the operative text from the New Jersey Judiciary’s own model jury charge. what I searched

using it during a crimeuses or wears a body vest while engaged in the commission of, or an attempt to commit, or flight after committing or attempting to committhe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesA body vest is defined as a bullet-resistant body armor which is intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

A 2022 bill that would have banned possession and required registration was introduced and not enacted.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in New Jersey, see New Jersey gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

New Mexico NM

New Mexico has no body armor statute. An ordinary adult may own, buy and wear it with no state license and no registration, the state adds no penalty for wearing it during a crime, and no state conviction bar reaches it. The only restriction that reaches a New Mexican is the federal one.

Own and wear: no state rule
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar
Using it in a crime: no state rule
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing — the state has no body armor statute
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: New Mexico publishes its statutes only through a viewer that will not return a whole-code search, so this row was established by reading the three places such a provision would have to live, plus the bill that tried to create one. (1) NMSA 30-7-16, the felon-in-possession statute, reaches only “a firearm or destructive device” and never mentions body armor. (2) NMSA 31-18-16, the sentence-enhancement statute, enhances for a firearm and carries no body armor provision. (3) House Bill 64 of 2021 would have made it a fourth-degree felony for a convicted felon to possess body armor, and a third-degree felony to wear it during a felony; it was tabled in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on 15 February 2021 and never became law. A legislature does not draft a bill to create an offense that already exists. (4) The federal compilation of New Mexico weapons law, which reproduces the concealed-carry chapter, the whole of the weapons and explosives article including 30-7-16, and the state constitutional provision, contains no body armor statute anywhere. This is a narrower method than the whole-code search used for the other 50 jurisdictions, and I say so. Verified 1 September 2026. HB 64 (2021) what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in New Mexico, see New Mexico gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

New York NY

New York is the only jurisdiction in the country where an ordinary adult may not lawfully take possession of body armor at all.

Now, that ban is being challenged. Heeter v. James asks a federal court to strike the possession rule on Second Amendment grounds, and through 2026 the briefing drew filings from gun-control groups on the state’s side. No court has enjoined any part of it. Until one does, the rule above is the rule you live under, and I would not ship a plate carrier to a New York address on the strength of a case that is still being argued.

Own and wear: eligible professions only
Buying it: in person, and the buyer must be in an eligible profession
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A class E felony, requiring a violent felony offense AND possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun. N.Y. Penal Law § 270.20(1)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: sold as protective body covering against gunfire (body armor) N.Y. Penal Law § 270.20(2)
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: Read from the New York Senate’s own published law pages. what I searched

the possession barwhich shall include police officers as defined in section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, peace officers as defined in section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law, persons in military service in the state of New Yorkthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimeA person is guilty of the unlawful wearing of body armor when acting either alone or with one or more other persons he commits any violent felony offense defined in section 70.02 while possessing a firearm, rifle or shotgunthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesFor the purposes of this section “body armor” means any product that is a personal protective body covering intended to protect against gunfire, regardless of whether such product is to be worn alone or is sold as a complement to another product or garment.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

New York is the only jurisdiction in the country where an ordinary adult may not lawfully take possession of body armor at all.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in New York, see New York gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

North Carolina NC

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: sentence enhancement. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. It raises the underlying felony by one class. The trigger is broader than wearing: immediate possession suffices. N.C.G.S. § 15A-1340.16C(a)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: the term is used but never defined (bullet-proof vest) N.C.G.S. § 15A-1340.16C
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read N.C.G.S. § 14-409.40(b) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text sweep of G.S. chapters 14 and 15A; the only other mention of body armor in chapter 14 is a research exemption inside the teflon-bullet statute. what I searched

using it during a crimeIf a person is convicted of a felony and it is found as provided in this section that the person wore or had in his or her immediate possession a bullet-proof vest at the time of the felonythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesEnhanced sentence if defendant is convicted of a felony and the defendant was wearing or had in his or her immediate possession a bullet-proof vest during the commission of the felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in North Carolina, see North Carolina gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

North Dakota ND

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read N.D.C.C. § 62.1-01-03(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of all 2,517 chapter PDFs of the Century Code: zero occurrences of body armor, bulletproof, bullet resistant or ballistic. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in North Dakota, see North Dakota gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Ohio OH

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: sentence enhancement. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A charging specification plus a mandatory two-year add-on term. ORC 2929.14(B)(1)(d)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: a vest, helmet, shield or similar item diminishing a bullet impact (body armor) ORC 2941.1411(B)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read ORC 9.68(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code keyword search on the Ohio Revised Code’s own system: five sections, all sentencing or charging provisions. what I searched

using it during a crimecharges the offender with wearing or carrying body armor while committing the felony offense of violence, the court shall impose on the offender an additional prison term of two years.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesAs used in this section, “body armor” means any vest, helmet, shield, or similar item that is designed or specifically carried to diminish the impact of a bullet or projectile upon the offender’s body.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Ohio, see Ohio gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Oklahoma OK

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Up to ten years, twenty on a second offense. 21 O.S. § 1289.26
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: a vest or shirt of ten plies or more (body armor) 21 O.S. § 1289.19(2)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 21 O.S. § 1289.24(A)(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text scan of the Legislature’s own complete title 21 PDF: eight occurrences, all in §§ 1289.19 and 1289.26. what I searched

using it during a crimewearing body armor as defined in Section 1289.19 of this title, inthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates”Body armor” means a vest or shirt of ten (10) plies or morethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Oklahoma, see Oklahoma gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Oregon OR

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence ORS 166.642(1)(a)
How the bar is lifted: A Class C felony. A one-conviction exception and a protective-order affirmative defense apply.
Using it in a crime: separate offense and sentencing aggravator. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. ORS 166.643 and ORS 137.090(3)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: minimizes injury from a deadly weapon (body armor) ORS 166.641(1)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read ORS 166.170(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Scan of the full current ORS as published by the Oregon Legislature, 800 numeric chapter pages plus 39 letter-suffixed chapters. what I searched

the possession barconvicted of a felony or misdemeanor involving violence under the law of anythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimewearing body armor in the course of and in furtherance of the crime, or tothe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans any clothing or equipment designed in whole or in part to minimize thethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Oregon, see Oregon gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Pennsylvania PA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A third-degree felony, and broader than most: mere control, custody or possession during a felony suffices. 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(c)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: named materials, plus a catch-all (body armor) 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(d)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 18 Pa.C.S. § 6120(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text sweep of the whole of 18 Pa.C.S.: body armor appears in § 907 and in the armor-piercing ammunition definition, nowhere else. what I searched

using it during a crimeif in the course of the commission of a felony or in the attempt to commit a felony he uses or wears body armor or has in his control, custody or possession any body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesAny protective covering for the body, or parts thereof, made of any polyaramid fiber or any resin-treated glass fiber cloth or any material or combination of materials made or designed to prevent, resist, deflect or deter the penetration thereof by ammunition,the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

Pennsylvania names a standard NUMBER – but in the armor-piercing AMMUNITION definition, and the one it names is NILECJ-STD-0101.01, from 1978.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Rhode Island RI

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a felony that is a crime of violence, defined by an exhaustive enumerated list R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.4(a)
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: sold as protective body covering against gunfire (body armor) R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-20.4(b)(2)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-58 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: The official chapter 11-47 index lists exactly one body armor section. what I searched

the possession barIt shall be unlawful within this state for any person to purchase, own or possess body armor, if that person has been convicted of a felony that is a crime of violence.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, defined“Crime of violence” means murder, manslaughter, first degree arson, kidnapping with intent to extort, robbery, larceny from the person, first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, first and second degree child molestationthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“Body armor” means any product sold or offered for sale, in interstate or foreign commerce, as personal protective body covering intended to protect against gunfire, regardless of whether the product is to be worn alonethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Rhode Island, see Rhode Island gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

South Carolina SC

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a violent crime as defined in section 16-1-60 S.C. Code § 16-3-1085(A)
How the bar is lifted: Relief is a written permission from a chief of police or county sheriff, and the holder must carry it.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. S.C. Code § 16-3-1080(A)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: protects from injury caused by a firearm (body armor) S.C. Code § 16-3-1080(C)(1)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read S.C. Code § 23-31-510(1) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Sweep of all 17 chapters of title 16 plus titles 4, 5, 17, 23, 24 and 59: body armor appears only in §§ 16-3-1080 and 16-3-1085. what I searched

the possession barit is unlawful for a person who has been convicted of a violent crime, as defined in Section 16-1-60, to purchase, own, possess, or use body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

how the bar is liftedA person who has been convicted of a violent crime whose employment, livelihood, or safety is dependent on his ability to purchase, own, possess, or use body armor may petition the chief of policethe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimea person who commits or attempts to commit a violent crime, as defined in Section 16-1-60, or threatens to commit a violent crime, as defined in Section 16-1-60, while wearing body armor is guilty of a felonythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“Body armor” means clothing or a device designed or intended to protect a person’s body or a portion of a person’s body from injury caused by a firearm;the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in South Carolina, see South Carolina gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

South Dakota SD

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read SDCL 9-19-20 and 7-18A-36 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full text of all 40,756 SDCL sections pulled through the Legislature’s own statute API: zero occurrences. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in South Dakota, see South Dakota gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Tennessee TN

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-1323
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: threat level I soft armor, spelled out (body vest)
Can a locality be stricter: Not established.
How I checked this: The offense is corroborated on the General Assembly’s own site. The statutory text and definition were read from the State’s contracted free public-access edition of the Tennessee Code, whose result addresses are session-scoped and cannot be re-fetched from a stable URL. what I searched

using it during a crimeCommitting violent or drug offense while wearing a body vest, as prohibited by § 39-17-1323.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

read through a browserA person commits an offense who knowingly wears a body vest, when acting either alone or with one (1) or more other persons, while committingTennessee Code Unannotated – Free Public Access. Read through a browser on a residential connection because this publisher would not serve this build directly. Same channel and same caveat as tn-def.

read through a browserFor purposes of this section, a “body vest” means a bullet-resistant soft armor providing, as a minimum standard, the level of protection known as threat level ITennessee Code Unannotated – Free Public Access (the State’s contracted free public-access edition), Title 39 › Chapter 17 › Part 13. Read through a browser on a residential connection because this publisher would not serve this build directly. Result URLs on this host are session-scoped, so this quote cannot be re-fetched from a stable address. The offense itself is corroborated on the General Assembly’s own site by claim tn-conduct.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Tennessee, see Tennessee gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Texas TX

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a felony – ANY felony, with no violence or category limitation Tex. Penal Code § 46.041(b)
How the bar is lifted: A third-degree felony. This is the broadest prohibited-person rule in the country.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: body covering manifestly designed to protect against gunfire (metal or body armor) Tex. Penal Code § 46.041(a)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Tex. Local Gov’t Code § 229.001(a)(1)(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Read from Penal Code chapter 46 in full. Texas’s statute site no longer serves a whole-code search this build could reach, so the Texas negatives are chapter-scoped. what I searched

the possession barA person who has been convicted of a felony commits an offense if after the conviction the person possesses metal or body armor.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesIn this section, ”metal or body armor” means any body covering manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of protecting a person against gunfire.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Texas, see Texas gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Utah UT

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: sentence enhancement. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Raises the minimum indeterminate term where a dangerous weapon was also used. Utah Code § 76-3-203.7(2)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: bullet penetration resistance, or protection from a dangerous weapon (body armor) Utah Code § 76-3-203.7(1)(a)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Utah Code § 53-5a-102(4) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code search through the Legislature’s own search backend: exactly one Code section for body armor. what I searched

using it during a crimethe defendant used, carried, or possessed a dangerous weapon and also used or wore body armor, with the intent to facilitate the commission of the violent felonythe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans any material designed or intended to provide bullet penetration resistance or protection from bodily injury caused by a dangerous weapon.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Utah, see Utah gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Vermont VT

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read 24 V.S.A. § 2295 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: The full text of 13 V.S.A. chapter 85, Vermont’s weapons chapter, contains no body armor section, and neither does the title 20 chapter list. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Vermont, see Vermont gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Virginia VA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. A Class 4 felony, and it takes THREE elements together: a listed crime, possession of a firearm or knife, AND wearing body armor. Va. Code § 18.2-287.2
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: diminishes the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile (body armor) Va. Code § 18.2-287.2
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Va. Code § 15.2-915(A) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text sweep of all 13 chapters of title 18.2 and all 95 chapters of title 15.2: zero occurrences outside § 18.2-287.2. what I searched

using it during a crimehas in his possession a firearm or knife and is wearing body armor designed to diminish the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulateshas in his possession a firearm or knife and is wearing body armor designed to diminish the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Virginia, see Virginia gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Washington WA

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read RCW 9.41.290 and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full text of every chapter of the RCW, 2,749 chapter cites through the code reviser’s own full-chapter view: the phrase does not appear anywhere. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Washington, see Washington gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

West Virginia WV

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: separate offense. This restricts nothing about owning body armor. Two to ten years and up to $10,000. W. Va. Code § 61-7-15(a)
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: ballistic resistance to penetration and deformation of the torso (body armor) W. Va. Code § 61-7-15(b)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read W. Va. Code § 8-12-5a(a) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code full-text search on the West Virginia Legislature’s own system: exactly three sections. what I searched

using it during a crimeA person who wears or is otherwise equipped with body armor while committing a felony offense, an element of which is force, the threat of force, physical harm to anotherthe statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulates“body armor” means a jacket, vest, or other similar apparel or device constructed to provide ballistic resistance to penetration and deformation and intended to protect the human torso against gunfire.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

West Virginia is the only state in this set whose code names the National Institute of Justice at all – and it does so in a deputy-sheriff procurement standard, naming the program and no standard number.

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in West Virginia, see West Virginia gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Wisconsin WI

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here, and a prior conviction of the kind named below bars possession.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: convicted of a violent felony, defined by a long enumerated list of statute sections Wis. Stat. § 941.291(2)
How the bar is lifted: Wisconsin is the only state where relief is a COURT-granted exemption, complete or partial, rather than a police decision.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement. Wisconsin has no use-during-a-crime offense; its only related provision requires the sentencing court to warn a violent felon about the possession ban.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: a garment adapted to prevent bullets penetrating (body armor) Wis. Stat. § 941.291(1)(a)
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Wis. Stat. § 66.0409(2) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Whole-code full-text search on the Wisconsin Legislature’s own system: hits only in chapters 938, 941, 971 and 973. what I searched

the possession barExcept as provided in subs. (4), (5), (5m), and (6), no person may possess body armor if any of the following applies to the person:the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

the predicate offense, definedThe person has been convicted of a violent felony in this state and has not been pardoned for it.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

using it during a crimeWhenever a court imposes a sentence or places a defendant on probation for a conviction for a violent felony, as defined in s. 941.291 (1) (b), the court shall inform the defendant of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.291.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

what the statute regulatesmeans any garment that is designed, redesigned, or adapted to prevent bullets from penetrating through the garment.the statute, re-fetched and matched against the returned bytes

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Wisconsin, see Wisconsin gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

Wyoming WY

State law places no restriction on an ordinary adult owning or wearing body armor here. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.

Own and wear: no state restriction
Buying it: no state rule
Barred by conviction: no state bar. The federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 still applies.
Using it in a crime: no separate offense and no enhancement.
Where you may not wear it: no place restriction found
What the law regulates: nothing – this jurisdiction’s law does not use or define the term
Can a locality be stricter: Probably. We read Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 6-8-401(c) and its scope language does not name body armor. the statute
How I checked this: Full-text search of all 42 Wyoming Statutes title PDFs: zero occurrences of body armor. what I searched

For carry permits, reciprocity and sensitive places in Wyoming, see Wyoming gun laws. That page is authoritative on carrying; this one is authoritative on body armor.

What people actually search for

These are search demand figures – how many times a month people ask each question in the United States – not this page’s traffic and not our own analytics. We publish them because they show which cells of this table people are actually trying to reach.

What people type	Searches a month	What it tells us
are bullet proof vests legal	350	The single largest question in the cluster. Not is it legal HERE – is it legal at all.
is body armor legal in california	200	The largest per-state question, and California is a prohibited-person state.
are plate carriers legal in ny	150	New York, asked about the hardware rather than the law. Its statute was rewritten in 2022 for exactly this reason.
is it illegal to wear body armor in public	100	A wearing question, which is a different question from an owning question.
what states is body armor illegal	70	The by-state question, asked as a negative.
michigan body armor laws	50	Michigan, a prohibited-person state where relief comes from the local chief of police.
is body armor legal in texas	30	Texas bars anyone convicted of ANY felony – the broadest rule in the country.
can a felon own body armor	20	The federal question, and the cell most charts do not have at all.

United States search demand for body armor legality questionsFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

How the total is derived. The naive sum of every string in this cluster is 1,660 a month, and that number is wrong: within one question the near-duplicate spellings are the same question asked twice. Counting one headline term per distinct question gives 970 a month, which is the figure I use. The single largest question in the cluster is not “is it legal by state” – it is whether a vest is legal at all.

Common questions

Can I legally buy and own body armor?

In 50 of the 51 jurisdictions, yes – that is 49 states plus the District of Columbia – an ordinary adult faces no state rule against owning it. New York is the exception: there, only people in listed professions may own it. Two states restrict how you buy rather than whether you may own – Connecticut requires the sale to happen in person with a permit, and New York in person and by profession.

Does a criminal record stop me owning body armor?

In 11 states, yes: Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Forty others set no bar of that kind at state level. Federal law is separate and applies everywhere – this page covers the state rules.

Is it a crime to wear body armor while committing an offense?

In most places it makes matters worse. Twenty states treat it as a separate crime of its own, four as an enhancement to the underlying offense, one as both, and one bars release. Twenty-four set no rule of that kind. The row for each state says which.

Are there places I cannot wear it?

Almost nowhere. Louisiana is the only jurisdiction with a place restriction. The other fifty set none at state level – though a private property owner or an individual building can still set its own rule, which no statute overrides.

How this page was built, and where the record is thin

A figure or a legal claim reaches this page only if we re-fetched the statute from the legislature’s, the agency’s or the court’s own website and matched the quoted text against the bytes that came back. An advocacy chart, a law firm blog, a retailer’s legal page or another map is not a source here and is never the only thing behind a cell.

171 of 171 claims verified this way on 2026-08-26: 159 fetched directly, 12 read through a browser on a residential connection because the publisher would not serve this build. Those are still the issuing body’s own bytes over a different pipe, and each one says so where it appears.

A “no” is a search, not an assumption

Most jurisdictions on this page have no body armor statute at all. That is a claim like any other, so every one of them carries the enumerated search that established it – which whole-code search I ran on which official site, how much text I read, and, where the site allowed it, a control term proving the search was reading something. Each jurisdiction section prints its own.

What I could not establish

Six publishers refused this build on every route I had, and I say so rather than converting the refusal into a finding. A refusal is not evidence of absence.

New Mexico was the largest gap in the first build and is now closed by a different route. The state still publishes its statutes only through a viewer that will not return a whole-code search, so instead of searching the code I read the three sections where such a provision would have to sit and the 2021 bill that tried to create one. The finding is that no body armor statute exists. That is a narrower method than the one used for the other 50 jurisdictions, and the New Mexico entry says so on its face.
Mississippi: the state’s own compiled code was unreachable. The negative here rests on the Mississippi Judiciary’s master list of every criminal offense and its code section, which is an official state source but enumerates CRIMINAL offenses only.
Tennessee: the definition and operative text were read from the State’s contracted free public-access edition of the Tennessee Code, whose result addresses are session-scoped. The existence of the offense is separately corroborated on the General Assembly’s own site.
Connecticut and Michigan refused this build’s network and were read through a browser instead. Hawaii refused every direct route; its negative comes from the Legislature’s own whole-code search, run through a browser, with a control term that returned 154 results.
Preemption: I read the scope language of 40 preemption statutes. For the remaining jurisdictions I did not, and those say “not established” rather than guessing.

What this page does not cover

Municipal ordinances, which as the preemption section explains are an open question here. Export controls. School district and employer policies. Rules for people on probation or parole, which are set case by case. And stab or spike protection, which several of these definitions expressly do not reach.

Questions people actually ask

Is body armor legal to own?: In 49 states and the District of Columbia an ordinary adult may buy, own and wear it, and no state license or registration is required. New York is the exception: since 2022 only people engaged or employed in an eligible profession may take possession of it at all. Separately, a federal statute bars anyone convicted of a felony crime of violence from purchasing, owning or possessing body armor, and that one applies in every state.
What is the federal body armor law?: 18 U.S.C. 931 makes it unlawful for a person convicted of a felony that is a crime of violence to purchase, own or possess body armor. It is the only nationwide rule on this subject. The employment provision in subsection (b) is an affirmative defense rather than an exemption, and it requires a written certification obtained from the employer BEFORE the purchase, use or possession.
Which states ban body armor?: None ban it outright for everyone. Eleven states bar possession by people with certain prior convictions, and the predicate offense is different in each of them: Texas bars anyone convicted of any felony at all, while Rhode Island and Louisiana list the qualifying crimes one by one. Two states restrict how you may buy it. One state restricts where you may wear it. Those are four different questions and this page answers them separately.
Can a felon own body armor?: Under federal law, a person convicted of a felony that is a crime of violence may not purchase, own or possess body armor. Not every felony qualifies: the predicate is a crime of violence as defined in 18 U.S.C. 16, and the Supreme Court held the residual half of that definition unconstitutionally vague in 2018. State law is a separate layer with its own predicate, so a person can be barred federally and not by their state, or the reverse.
Is it illegal to buy body armor online?: In two states, yes. Connecticut requires the buyer to meet the seller in person AND to hold a state firearms permit or eligibility certificate. New York requires an in-person sale and limits buyers to eligible professions. Everywhere else there is no state rule on the purchase channel and no federal one either. A retailer that declines to ship to your state is making a commercial decision, not applying a law, and this page never prints one as the other.
Do all these states mean the same thing by body armor?: No, and this is the part every other chart drops. Among the jurisdictions that define the term there are seventeen distinct statutory tests. Florida, Georgia and Tennessee regulate a bullet-resistant SOFT armor at a level I standard written out as seven layers stopping three .38 rounds, which on its face does not describe a rifle plate. Ohio’s definition names helmets and shields. Oklahoma’s is measured in plies. Three states use the term and never define it.
Does wearing body armor during a crime make owning it illegal?: No, and conflating the two is the most common error in this subject. Twenty-six jurisdictions make using or wearing body armor during an offense either a separate crime or a sentence enhancement. None of those provisions restricts anything about owning, buying or wearing armor lawfully. They are printed in their own column on this page and they never color a jurisdiction as restricted.
Can a city or county be stricter than the state?: Very possibly, and this is the opposite of the position for firearms. We read the preemption statute’s own scope language in 41 states. Not one of them names body armor: they preempt local regulation of firearms, ammunition, components and accessories, and body armor is none of those. So the usual assumption that a state firearm preemption statute settles the local question does not hold here.
What does NIJ level IIIA mean, and is it in any law?: It is a protection level from the National Institute of Justice’s body armor standard. NIJ Standard 0101.06 was revised by 0101.07 in 2023, and the level names changed with it – level II and IIIA became HG1 and HG2, level III became RF1 and level IV became RF3. No state statute in this survey cites either 0101.06 or 0101.07. The three that name a standard number at all name 0101.03 or NILECJ-STD-0101.01, which are from 1987 and 1978.

Revision history

Every substantive change to this page is logged here. I never silently edit a legal claim.

Date	What changed
2026-09-09	Checked the New York entry against the pending federal challenge to its possession ban and added it. Re-read 18 U.S.C. 931 and the eleven conviction-bar states; no change to any of them. Page voice pass.
2026-08-26	First publication. All 51 jurisdictions built from the statutes’ own text. Every quoted legal claim was re-fetched from the legislature’s, the agency’s or the court’s own site on this date and matched against the returned bytes.

Revision history for this pageFreedom’s Lodge · freedomslodge.com/body-armor-laws-by-state/

Each state gun-law page is authoritative on carrying a firearm in that state: permits, reciprocity, sensitive places and duty to inform. This page is authoritative on body armor, and it is the only page on this site that covers the subject at all. See also the magazine capacity map, the concealed carry reciprocity map and the carry law change log.

This is not legal advice. Freedom’s Lodge and Brand Avalanche Media are not attorneys or a law firm; this is general educational information only. Body armor law differs by state and by locality, the federal bar in 18 U.S.C. 931 turns on how a particular conviction is characterised, and a court or an officer can read a statute differently than I do. You are solely responsible for confirming current law with official sources and a licensed attorney before you buy, carry or travel with body armor. Information reflects the best available sources as of 2026-08-26 only. Read the full legal disclaimer

Spotted something out of date?

Laws move faster than anyone can sweep for them, and the people who notice first are usually the people who live there. Tell us what changed. A person checks every one of these against the state’s own statute before a word on this page moves, and the date at the top only changes when that happens.

Stay Ahead on 2A — Free.

One answer, and the five questions it hides

Body armor law in all 51 jurisdictions

The federal layer: 18 U.S.C. 931

Which convictions count

The employment provision is a defense, not an exemption

What the federal statute means by body armor

And a federal sentencing enhancement, separately

There is no federal purchase rule

The eleven states that bar possession after a conviction

Using it during a crime is not a restriction on owning it

What each statute actually regulates

The three states that still regulate soft armor only

The definitions that reach further than you would expect

The NIJ standard, and why a level name in a statute may be stale

No statute in this survey cites the current standard

A retailer refusing to ship is not a law

Local rules: the opposite of the position for firearms

Every jurisdiction, one at a time

Alabama AL

Alaska AK

Arizona AZ

Arkansas AR

California CA

Colorado CO

Connecticut CT

Delaware DE

District of Columbia DC

Florida FL

Georgia GA

Hawaii HI

Idaho ID

Illinois IL

Indiana IN

Iowa IA

Kansas KS

Kentucky KY

Louisiana LA

Maine ME

Maryland MD

Massachusetts MA

Michigan MI

Minnesota MN

Mississippi MS

Missouri MO

Montana MT

Nebraska NE

Nevada NV

New Hampshire NH

New Jersey NJ

New Mexico NM

New York NY

North Carolina NC

North Dakota ND

Ohio OH

Oklahoma OK

Oregon OR

Pennsylvania PA

Rhode Island RI

South Carolina SC

South Dakota SD

Tennessee TN

Texas TX

Utah UT

Vermont VT

Virginia VA

Washington WA

West Virginia WV

Wisconsin WI

Wyoming WY

What people actually search for

Common questions

How this page was built, and where the record is thin

A “no” is a search, not an assumption

What I could not establish

What this page does not cover

Questions people actually ask

Revision history

Related on Freedom’s Lodge

Spotted something out of date?