Is Body Armor Legal In Your State?

Militia News – by Chad Cooper

The Second Amendment (Amendment II) of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Apparently, the Connecticut legislature does not include body armor as a type of “arms” or if they do, they just don’t care about the Constitution. You see, Public Act 98-127 criminalizes the transaction of body armor unless done face to face. In other words, if you live in Connecticut, you can’t buy body armor online or via a catalog (Military members, Law Enforcement, Judges excepted). New York is following suit and has legislation drafted to prohibit armor as well. New Jersey? Virginia? California? Texas? Who’s next?  

If you’ve been paying attention at all, you already know that erosion of the 2nd Amendment is nothing new. So, what about the other 49 states? Still LEGAL (for now).

The Federal Government has prohibited the possession of body armor for convicted violent felons. However, there are a few exceptions: If you have a justifiable need for occupation or personal safety. If this exception might apply to you, you need a note from your employer and you need to petition the local sheriff or police chief for an exception- otherwise it could land you in jail for 3 years and a hefty fine.

Okay, so you don’t live in Connecticut, you’re not a felon, can you own body armor and buy it online or over the phone? Legally, yes. But not every dealer or manufacturer will sell to civilians. Lawyers, liability, and lawsuits waiting to happen… Fortunately, there’s still one company who manufactures body armor in Texas who will sell to civilians (and police too) without a background check. Enter, Infidel Body Armor, LLC. Infidel is becoming more well known and had their first-ever appearance at the 2014 Shot Show in Las Vegas. Their armor surpasses the minimum standards set forth by the National Institute of Justice and stops not only SIX rounds from a .308, but HUNDREDS of rounds from .308, 7.62×39 and 5.56 and more. How do they do it? The secret is not so secret.

If you’ve been thinking about body armor to complement your security and defense, you need to understand a little about what armor can and can’t do, as well as the ratings that go along with them. Armor falls into two broad categories: Pistol armor and Rifle armor. Pistol armor is usually soft and lightweight (that’s what’s worn by most patrol cops today) and is rated as either Level II or IIIa. The rifle armor is ridged and heavier (worn by military and SWAT police) and gets a rating of III or IV. Level III rifle armor will stop pistol rounds in addition to at least 6 hits from a .308 FMJ (7.62 NATO) at 50 feet. The Level IV armor only has to stop ONE round from an Armor Piercing 30 caliber rifle at 50 feet (it may not stop the six 7.62 NATO rounds that the level III can).

Confused yet? It gets worse. The rifle armor is tested only against the specified rounds- not every round that’s out there. So, not all armor is created equal or will stop the same bullets. Independent testing and reviews show that Infidel Armor, in addition to stopping the common 7.62 NATO, can stop hundreds of hits from lots of other rifles like the AK-47, AR-15, 12-gauge slugs, 30-06, and more. What’s more, is that the shrapnel produced from a bullet impacting the armor is trapped in their special polymer coating. Otherwise, bullet shrapnel and ceramic could impact your neck and appendages, leading to secondary injuries and/or death. Wow! Pretty important decision.

Why not just go with E-SAPI plates that the military uses? For one, you can only get them ILLEGALLY at gun shows and who knows how old they are and what condition they are in. Even if you knew they were in good condition (you can’t unless you X-Ray them), they really aren’t the best solution for civilians. Why you ask? The US Military has a bit more of a budget than you and the plates they purchase are designed to be replaced every few years even if they don’t get struck with a bullet. If they do get struck, they are designed to break on impact and become worthless after the first hit. Infidel plates, are designed with the civilian in mind who can’t afford or possibly just can’t replace his armor after an impact. What’s the cost difference? Try $1,200 for the SAPIs vs. $295 for Infidel’s! That can’t be right you say. But it’s true. Let the government overpay for armor that’s designed to break after being hit, but you’re smarter, you know that you can get better protection at a lower price. In fact, Infidel has a whole set up with a plate carrier (vest) and armor for just $375 (if you are okay with a Chinese plate carrier). I’m opting for their Bellator carrier (MADE IN THE USA) for just a few bucks more (got to support Americans).

In sum, body armor may not always be legal or readily available for Joe Six-pack to purchase. You still have time and you still have choices. My pick is Infidel Body Armor What’s yours?

Written by Chad Cooper.

http://www.militianews.com/is-body-armor-legal-in-your-state/