Vests Are Illegal??

[Robert J McElwain]

I've seen a number of articles in the papers lately, dealing with criminal arrests, that suggest that private ownership of a bullet-proof vest is illegal. Is this true in all states? When did this happen? I guess I haven't been paying close enough attention.

Bob

 

[Roccobro]

Not all states, but some at least. I don't know the theory behind it. It *should* read "persons with prior felony convictions are prohibited", not just any law abiding citizen who has money and a concern of having holes punched into their bodies unwillingly.

Justin

 

[Werewolf]

Kind'a depends on where you live as to whether or not vests are illegal.

In OK you can own 'em but if you commit a crime while wearing one then they become illegal.

Kind'a like if you kill a guy for his money it's bad but if you kill 'im because you don't like the shoes he's wearin' it's a hate crime and oh so much worse.

 

[chipperi]

Tn is the same The are legal unless you use one in commission of a crime.

 

[fletcher]

It depends on where you live. I believe they're legal in most places, but if you use one in commission of a crime, it's just additional charges they can pile on.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

I think one of the stories I read involved a guy getting pulled over for a traffic violation and the cop spotted the vest laying on the back sit. And it all went downhill from there. No felony being committed and no felony record.

As has been suggested, if a guy is going to rob a bank, does anyone believe he'll decide not to buy himself a vest because it's illegal for a civilian, felon or otherwise, to have one? It only hurt the innocents.

Bob

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

I don't know what the law says, but every website or store that I know of that sells body armor says "for sale to law enforcement or military only". So the law in your state may say you can buy armor, but I have no idea where you could actually get it.

 

[gunsmith]

afaik ianal

Most times , if there is a law it simply means you are not allowed to commit crime and wear one.

 

[Nitrogen]

Get this. I actually know a guy who was fired from his job for bringing a bullet proof vest into his job.

Apparently they thought the vest was going to shoot the place up or something. (No he didn't have a gun, he had bought the vest at his lunch hour I believe.)

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

In Texas a civilian can own body armor as long as they are not a felon.

Good thing too. All my employees are technically civilians, and all wear body armor to work. Level III/IV, can you believe we get paid for this?

 

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

Where does one even get a "bulletproof" vest? I've looked at the usual tacticool places; rangerjoes.com, uscav, lapolicegear.com, and various surplus and uniform stores in my area. None of them will sell to a non-LEO or non-Military Procurement officer.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

Level III/IV, can you believe we get paid for this?

depends on how much you're being paid.....if i was only being paid like $10/hr i think id pass!

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

Where does one even get a "bulletproof" vest?

Galls.com or Bulletproofme.com

The second one will ask you questions to make sure you aren't a BG.

depends on how much you're being paid.....if i was only being paid like $10/hr i think id pass!

So would I. You'll have to double that.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

I was skimming the latest catalog from Cheaper Than Dirt, and thought I saw one in there. That's what got me to thinking about this.

Bob

 

[damien]

I think one of the stories I read involved a guy getting pulled over for a traffic violation and the cop spotted the vest laying on the back sit. And it all went downhill from there. No felony being committed and no felony record.

Never heard of such a thing. This might be used by an officer as probable cause to search, but if everything else is legal, there is nothing here. Link?

I don't know what the law says, but every website or store that I know of that sells body armor says "for sale to law enforcement or military only".

You must not be searching very hard. They even have vests and ceramic plates listed on eBay, every level, new and used. The prior links mentioned work also.

 

[geekWithA.45]

While various states prohibit armor to convicted felons and during the commission of a crime, I know of no jurisdiction that prohibits someone with a clean record from owning or wearing armor while going about his lawful business.


As for newspapers implying that armor is illegal for citizens, that's simply the writer's ignorance and prejudice leaking through; way too many people uncritically accept the faulty proposition that certain tools are strictly for the King's Men.

 

[Robert J McElwain]

While various states prohibit armor to convicted felons and during the commission of a crime, I know of no jurisdiction that prohibits someone with a clean record from owning or wearing armor while going about his lawful business.


As for newspapers implying that armor is illegal for citizens, that's simply the writer's ignorance and prejudice leaking through; way too many people uncritically accept the faulty proposition that certain tools are strictly for the King's Men.

Are you suggesting, possibly, that the media doesn't always know what they're talking about? How is that possible?

Bob

 

[-C4-]

Anyone know their legality in MD, VA, and DC? Or if there is a good resource for it. My $0.02 on the whole subject is that it seems like a bad idea to make them illegal for normal people, but most laws aren't logical.

 

[DMF]

Under federal law anyone convicted of a violent felony may not possess body armor. Reference 18USC931.

 

[Novus Collectus]

In MD it is legal for all but violent crime convictees and drug trafficking criiminals unless the criminals get a special permit.

4) APPLICATION FOR BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR: Maryland law mandates that all persons with a prior CONVICTION for a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime are prohibited from using, possessing, or purchasing bulletproof body armor without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police. NOTE: A permit to use, possess, or purchase bulletproof body armor is not required for persons not convicted of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cach...aryland+carry+permit&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

 

[hjaeger]

I wasn't aware that there was such a thing as a "bulletproof" vest.

I've only heard of body armor.

 

[30 cal slob]

i've been shopping around for body armor myself.

in my home state of CT ... we have a weird law on the books that i just came across ...

you CANNOT MAIL ORDER BODY ARMOR (it's a MISDEMEANOR!)

purchases have to be made face to face. :banghead:

the law doesn't specify who the seller can be, it just has to be face to face.

if i go to the local liquor store and buy my body armor there, i think that satisfies the requirements of the law.

 

[romma]

I guess it's okay for: "A well regulated militia" to bleed out.

 

[The_Antibubba]

I was skimming the latest catalog from Cheaper Than Dirt, and thought I saw one in there. That's what got me to thinking about this.

You saw a flak jacket. Different creature.

 

[Robert Hairless]

I looked at the Maryland State Police link posted above and it does refer specifically to "bulletproof body armor." Perhaps the Maryland State Police has or knows of some special kind of body armor that is "bulletproof." Maryland law prohibits its use, ownership, or purchase by anyone with a "prior CONVICTION" for a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime unless they get a permit from the Secretary of the Maryland State Police:

Maryland law mandates that all persons with a prior CONVICTION for a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime are prohibited from using, possessing, or purchasing bulletproof body armor without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Maryland State Police. NOTE: A permit to use, possess, or purchase bulletproof body armor is not required for persons not convicted of a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime.

ATTENTION: SUBMISSION OF THIS APPLICATION DOES NOT PERMIT YOU TO USE, POSSESS, ORPURCHASE BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR. BEFORE YOU USE, POSSESS OR PURCHASE BULLETPROOF BODY ARMOR, YOU MUST POSSESS A VALID PERMIT AND KEEP IT ON YOUR PERSON WHILE USING, POSSESSING, OR PURCHASING THE BODY ARMOR.

Since a permit is not needed by other people, only people with a prior conviction for a violent offense or drug trafficking need to have the permit while using, possessing, or purchasing the bulletproof body armor.

It seems clear that people with prior convictions for the specified offenses can use, possess, and purchase body armor that is not bulletproof.

I don't understand, though, why body armor is the only protective device singled out in some states. If the idea is to deny criminals any protection of their persons while committing a crime, it seems to me that the laws in those states need to go much further. They also should prohibit criminals from using vehicles with airbags, safety glass, and bumpers during the commission of a crime. Criminals also should be denied the right to wear eye and ear protection, I think, and they most defnitely should be required to smoke cigarettes.