Tag: new york body armor ban

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Who can purchase Body Armor in New York?

Body Armor Regulations in New York

On June 6, 2022, NY, Governor Hochul signed into law new restrictions on the purchase, sale, exchange, and transfer of bullet-proof vests (then defined as “body vests”).  Effective July 6, 2022, when not being engaged or employed in an eligible profession, the purchase, taking possession of, sale, exchange, giving or disposing of body armor is prohibited.

The New York law is presented as enacted to protect people from gun violence. This law actually takes away protections from the people that need it. After the shooting in a grocery store in Buffalo, New York took away the right of the grocery store clerk, grandmother, butcher, and other law abiding citizens to protect themselves with body armor. This is a short cited reaction that endangers the lives of the residents of New York.

Does this mean you can’t buy body armor if you live or work in the state of New York? Maybe. This tough legislation is the most restrictive in the nation. It makes providing the life saving personal protection items difficult to obtain. There are many professions that are still legally able to purchase body armor. The list is growing weekly.

Who Can Buy Body Armor in New York?

The law only allows certain individuals to purchase body armor in New York. As of the writing of this article (4/25/2024) These individuals include:

  • Police Officers
  • Federal Law Enforcement Officers
  • Peace Officers
  • Persons in military service in the state of New York or military or other service for the United States
  • Armored Car Guards
  • Security guards
  • Firefighters
  • Emergency Medical Technician
  • Paramedic
  • Ambulance Driver and Attendant
  • Firearms Dealer
  • Body Armor Retailer/Salesperson
  • Private Investigator
  • Building Safety Inspector
  • Code Enforcement Officer
  • Firearms Instructor
  • Professional Journalist
  • Newscaster
  • Nuclear Security Officer
  • Process Server
  • Animal Control Officer
  • Range Safety Officer
  • Forensic Science Technician, Ballistics Examiner
  • School Building Administrator and School District Administrator

The list is growing, currently even “Tattoo Artist” is on the list of professions being considered.

Who Can’t Buy Body Armor in New York?

The law prohibits all other individuals from purchasing body armor in New York. Check the list to see if your profession is listed: https://dos.ny.gov/body-armor#

My profession is on the list. What is the process to make a purchase?

You can make a purchase on our site, but we will contact you to start the process of proving elegibility and arranging for a face to face delivery of the armor.

  1. All individuals and entities must present proof of engagement in an eligible profession when purchasing or taking possession of body armor. After you have made your purchase on our website you will be asked to provide us with a copy of your proof of eligible profession. This is satisfied by submission of a professional license issued by a federal, state or local government; employment card or other credential issued by an employer, or in the absence of the foregoing, submission to the seller of a form approved by the Department of State that is notarized, verifying that the purchaser is engaged in an eligible profession.
    Individual form | https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/07/body_armor_individual.pdf
    Entity form | https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/07/body_armor_entity.pdf
  2. No sale or delivery of body armor shall be permitted unless the transferee meets in person with the transferor to accomplish such sale or delivery, except for federal, state or local government agencies purchasing body armor to furnish them to employees in eligible professions. You will be asked to provide information for an FFL for transfer of the purchase. You will need to bring the identification you provided when making the online purchase.