Body Armor Laws: Where It's Restricted and Who Can't Buy It
Body armor is legal to buy, own, and wear in every U.S. state. The federal government and two states, New York and Connecticut, place specific restrictions on who can buy it and how the sale happens. Outside of those, the only nationwide restriction is a federal ban on violent felons possessing it at all. Here's exactly what's actually restricted, and where.
The one federal rule that applies everywhere
Under 18 U.S.C. § 931 (the James Guelff and Chris McCurley Body Armor Act of 2002), anyone convicted of a felony crime of violence, under federal or state law, cannot purchase, own, or possess body armor anywhere in the United States. Violating this is a federal offense carrying up to three years in prison. The one exception: a convicted violent felon may possess body armor if their employer provides prior written certification that it's necessary for their job, and their use of it stays limited to that work.
This is the only restriction that applies nationwide. Everything else below is state-specific.
New York: purchase restricted to eligible professions
New York Penal Law § 270.21, effective July 6, 2022, restricts who can buy body armor to people in an "eligible profession," per the New York Department of State's published list. That list currently includes (among others): police and peace officers, federal law enforcement, military personnel, armored car and security guards, firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, firearms dealers and instructors, private investigators, attorneys and judges, physicians and registered nurses in hospital/ER settings, and journalists and newscasters. The Department of State has amended this list eight times since 2022, most recently in January 2026, so it's worth checking the current version before assuming a profession is or isn't covered.
Two additional requirements apply regardless of profession:
- The transaction must happen in person. No online or remote sale to a New York buyer is legal under this law.
- Buyers must present proof of eligible-profession status: a professional license, employment credential, or a notarized, Department-approved form.
Selling to someone outside an eligible profession is a Class A misdemeanor on a first offense and a Class E felony after that.
Worth knowing: this law is currently being challenged in federal court. Heeter v. James (W.D.N.Y.), backed by the Firearms Policy Coalition, argues the ban violates the Second Amendment under Bruen. As of this writing, both sides have filed for summary judgment and no ruling has been issued. This page reflects the law as currently in force; it's subject to change if the court rules.
Connecticut: in-person sale plus a state permit
Connecticut General Statutes § 53-341b doesn't restrict body armor to specific professions the way New York does, but it does require:
1. The buyer and seller must meet in person to complete the sale, no remote or online purchase is legal for a Connecticut resident.
2. The buyer must hold and present a valid state firearm permit, eligibility certificate, ammunition certificate, or long-gun eligibility certificate at the time of the transaction.
Selling or delivering body armor without meeting this in-person requirement is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. Sworn law enforcement, corrections, and certain other government officials are exempt from these requirements when acting in their official capacity.
Every other state
In the remaining 48 states, body armor is legal for civilians to purchase, own, and wear, online or in person, with no profession requirement, subject only to the federal felon-possession rule above. Some states carry separate statutes that increase criminal penalties for wearing body armor while committing another crime (a "crime enhancement," not a purchase restriction), New Jersey's N.J.S.A. 2C:39-13 is one example. That's a different legal category from New York's and Connecticut's purchase restrictions: it doesn't require anything of an ordinary buyer, it only applies additional punishment if armor is used in the commission of a separate crime.
Frequently asked
Can I buy body armor online if I live in New York or Connecticut?
No. Both states specifically require an in-person transaction. An online purchase shipped to a New York or Connecticut address isn't a legal transaction under either state's law, regardless of the seller's location.
Do I need a permit to own body armor in most states?
No. Outside New York (eligible-profession requirement) and Connecticut (state permit requirement at time of sale), no state requires a license or permit to buy or own body armor.
Can a convicted felon ever legally possess body armor?
Only for a felony that isn't a "crime of violence" under federal law, non-violent felons aren't covered by 18 U.S.C. § 931. For a violent felony conviction, the only exception is documented, employer-certified use for a specific job.
Is body armor legal for civilians to wear in public?
Yes, in all 50 states, for anyone legally permitted to own it. Some states add extra criminal penalties if it's worn while committing a separate crime, but ordinary open or concealed wear isn't restricted anywhere.
Does this page apply to hard plates and helmets the same way it applies to soft armor?
Yes. None of the federal or state restrictions above distinguish by protection level, they apply to body armor generally, soft or hard.
Sources: 18 U.S.C. § 931 (Cornell Legal Information Institute, law.cornell.edu); New York Penal Law § 270.21 and the NY Department of State's official eligible-profession list (dos.ny.gov/body-armor); Connecticut General Statutes § 53-341b (Justia); Heeter v. James litigation status via Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org/heeter), current through August 2026; New Jersey N.J.S.A. 2C:39-13.