Law's behind owning a bullet proof vest .

J

JohnnyBmore

New member
I was looking at a nice bullet proof vest stage III I guess , that was designed like a nice outdoor fleece vest .. was thinking it would be a great vest to wear to the outdoor range in winter & it might be smart to always wear some sort of bullet proof protection when being around others with firearms ... But my friend said to look into it cause he was pretty sure its illegal to own one in MD ... ????? does anyone know the facts ?

Thanks ....

all I could find was that its legal to own & wear one ... But if you wear it while commiting a crime its illegal to be wearing it ????

So does that mean its legal for me to Buy one & wear it While at the range?? or when Im Droping of deposits for my Buisness??
 
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To my knowledge, at least in TX, it is legal to own and wear a bullet proof vest. As you stated, I wouldn't recommend wearing it while robbing a convenient store, but at the range and while making deposits at the bank should be fine. If worn on the exterior, you may draw some unwanted attention at the bank .... Just a thought.
 
Sounds to me like you might want to find another shooting range. But its no good against high powered rifles anyway. If you look at the crap singer 49cent or 50cent what ever his name is. He wears one everywhere. If you are unpoplar like him. It might be cool:barf:.. they can be a lot warmer than you think. sweat also breaks down kevlar.. Over time. Its legal in Alabama
 
JohnnyBmore,
You really need to research both the state laws of Maryland and possibly local laws. I recall once running across a Maryland gun-owner's forum while researching something my FIL mentioned about Havre de Grace - perhaps that might be the place to look for guidance to pertinent laws. There is no federal law restricting the purchase and use of "bulletproof" vests by law-abiding citizens for lawful reasons.

By the way, what brand vest were you looking at?
 
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Chaus Clothes ???

I dont know anything about vest's but I figured before I research any more I should find out if they are legal ..

so far I think they are .. just not if you commit a crime while wearing one ..

My range isnt bad but you can never tell.. one of the range's I go to rents fire arms so you get some wild people in there somtimes ...

Also I do not have a carry permit ( altough Im going to try hard as hell in this difficult state) I am in Baltimore city with cash & merch often enough to be worried about someone targeting me . Baltimore has an issue right now where people are being shot over small amounts of cash or shot after the victim has giving up everything ... figure If I dont have a firearm a vest might give me the Balls to try to protect myself in some way when faced with a firearm I will most likely be shot with ...
 
Body armor is legal to wear in EVERY state, however in some states it is illegal for felons or a person committing a crime to wear body armor.
 
The applicable federal law(s):

18 United States Code, Part 1, Chapter 44, Section 931: Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or possession of body
armor by violent felons

(a) In General. - 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 is -

(1) a crime of violence (as defined in section 16); or

(2) an offense under State law that would constitute a crime of
violence under paragraph (1) if it occurred within the special
maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

(b) Affirmative Defense. -

(1) In general. - It shall be an affirmative defense under this
section that -

(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 activity; and

(B) the use and possession by the defendant were limited to

the course of such performance.

(2) Employer. - In this subsection, the term "employer" means
any other individual employed by the defendant's business that
supervises defendant's activity. If that defendant has no
supervisor, prior written certification is acceptable from any
other employee of the business.

Last modified: April 12, 2006
 
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18 United States Code, Part 1, Chapter 1, Section 16: Crime of violence defined

The term “crime of violence” means—

(a) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or prop erty of another, or

(b) any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
 
I agree with BigJim.

Handguns and small rifle bullets can be stopped by body armor, but everything I've ever heard and read, state that "high power" rifles penetrate those vests.

I came a half-of-a-step from buying one in 2002 or 2003, but my lack of knowledge let the wrong information get in my way of buying one.

If You can swing the funds, I feel that body armor would be a great addition, along with being protection as You run Your business funds from point "A" to point "B".
 
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