Disclaimers and FAQ's

LEGAL BODY ARMOR OWNERSHIP

Body armor is legal in all 50 states with ONLY the following three restrictions:

Body Armor is illegal if you have been convicted of a violent felony.
Body armor may not be shipped to a civilian in Connecticut. Body armor purchases in Connecticut are not allowed by Connecticut state regulations to occur over the internet; they MUST be made only through an in-person store purchase.

Wearing body armor while committing a crime will increase penalties greatly. Body armor was not designed for nor intended for criminals!
You can purchase your DefendAPack Vest, Backpack and Plates online and take delivery in 49 of the 50 states. The one exception is Connecticut, which requires that you buy a bulletproof vest in person, not online for delivery. You can still own a bulletproof vest if you live in Connecticut, we just cannot ship vests to Connecticut.

Additional Plates can ONLY be purchased by New Customers or Previous Customers who will purchase or have purchased a DefendAPack Vest, or Premium or Classic Backpack WITH Vest. If you are interested in JUST purchasing an insert (extra place), please call Customer Service at 561-651-9827.

TRAVEL

Body armor is legal in all 50 states and can be transported over state lines. However, you must be a law-abiding citizen and must not have any felonies or criminal investigations, or your body armor can be confiscated.

Please check all regulatory information for any international travel you may be undertaking if you plan to bring along armored protection. International laws vary from country to country.

LIFESPAN OF BODY ARMOR

The majority of the United States’ body armor has a standard National Institute of Justice (NIJ) five-year service rating. When a vest is worn each day, it loses the protective capability quicker than one that sits on a shelf. It doesn’t matter how short or long the body armor is worn, the vest should be carefully looked over for any signs of damage – creases, tears, smells and burns. If properly taken care of, the vest should last five years. Be sure to follow the care instructions.

To increase the lifespan of your vest make sure:

The ballistic interior of the vest is not exposed to direct sunlight or liquids.
Make sure that your vest is properly stored, usually in a place that allows you to lay it completely flat or hang it on a hanger
A bulletproof vest can also become damaged. Therefore, regular inspections of the vest itself, also be done to make sure that they fit well. If you notice the straps are starting to stretch or the Velcro doesn’t work like it should, it may be high time to buy a replacement Vest

WASHING YOUR ARMORED PROTECTION

The DefendAPack Vest cannot be washed, but should be dry cleaned if dirty.

IMPORTANT: Do not machine wash or dry clean ballistic panel insert(s). Bulletproof vests lose their ballistic performance when wet as the water acts as a lubricant. When this happens, it makes it susceptible to bullet penetration.

Remove ballistic panels from inside the backpack or the DefendAPack Vest.
Gently wipe ballistic panels using a mild soap and water. Set aside to dry.
Close all Velcro fasteners on the backpack armor pockets.

Dry clean or hand wash the backpack and Vest on a delicate cycle using medium water temperature. DO NOT BLEACH!

Air dry the Backpack and Vest. Reinsert ballistic panels with the “Strike Face” facing outward of each armor panel pocket; BE SURE THE BALLISTIC PANELS AND BACKPACK ARE DRIED COMPLETELY prior to re-inserting.

TESTING BODY ARMOR

Never shoot your body armor unless you are never going to wear it again. And never test ANY body armor while wearing it. No individual should be anywhere near, in, or around the DefendAPack Vest if testing.

WARRANTY

30-Day limited warranty on the on the workmanship on the DefendAPack Vest and Backpack. 5 year limited warranty on the ballistic plates.

STORING YOUR BODY ARMOR

You should store your DefendAPack Vest in a room temperature environment, away from direct sunlight, liquid or chemicals. If at all possible, lay your Vest flat.

INSERTING PANELS INTO THE VEST OR PACK

Ballistic panels have been created to fit into the carrier in a certain way. If the wearer puts them in wrong, it can lead to tragic results. The panel’s strike face should face away from your body and is created to slow and disperse the energy of the bullet. The backside of the panel (against your body) is created to reduce the trauma. If the panel is flipped, there’s no promise of the vest stopping a bullet.

PROTECTION AGAINST KNIVES

Bulletproof vest wearers need to understand that bulletproof vests are NOT knife resistant vests. Stab vests are made of another kind of fiber and weave than bulletproof vests. There are multi-threat vests on the market; but, these are generally heavier and cost quite a bit more money.

VEHICLE SAFETY

Each year, during the International Association of Chiefs of Police, DuPont has a ceremony for officers who have been saved by Kevlar body armor. Numerous officers recognized during this ceremony were saved from the impact of their patrol car’s steering column after an accident, not just from bullets. But do NOT just rely on the DefendAPack Vest. Make sure you are always wearing your seat belt.

______________________________

It is your full responsibility to know if you have really purchased legal body armor or not according to the restrictions in your area of residence.

Here are the basics of body armor legislation you should remember:

WHERE CAN YOU SELL BODY ARMOR?

Body armor can be shipped to 49 states of the United States. Sales people looking to purchase body armor in Connecticut can do so only through face to face transactions.
Body armor can be sold to anyone in face to face to transactions. There is no need for background check or ID and no need for special permits.
Body armor can be sold at gun shows, stores, websites, through catalogs, or over the phone.

WHERE CAN YOU NOT SELL BODY ARMOR?

You cannot take, ship, send, or bring body armor outside the US without Federal permission.
Body armor cannot be shipped to addresses in Connecticut.

LIST OF EACH STATE AND THEIR SPECIFIC LAWS

ALABAMA
There are no other body armor laws in Alabama. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests, except adults with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

ALASKA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vests except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

ARIZONA
Arizona, like most states, has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. It doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.

ARKANSAS
Possessing body armor is Class A Misdemeanor in Arkansas if you are convicted of manslaughter, murder, assault, aggravated robbery, or battery. The law doesn’t affect retailers of body armor. Anyone in Arkansas can buy and use bulletproof vests except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

CALIFORNIA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in California except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

COLORADO
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Colorado except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut implements the toughest body armor laws out of all states in the US. Residents are prohibited from purchasing or selling body armor with the exception of face to face sale. It means that if you are selling body armor online, you are not allowed to sell to residents of Connecticut.

This is a Class B misdemeanor in Connecticut that is punishable by 6-month imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both to deliver or sell body armor except when the transferee personally meets with the transferor to complete the delivery or sale. The law exempts deliveries or sales to:

sworn members or authorized officials of the State Police,
local police departments,
Board of Parole or Pardons,
and the Division of Criminal Justice;
authorized officials of Department of Administrative Services or
municipal who purchase body armor for agencies mentioned above;
armed forces or National Guard’s members;
authorized officials of Judicial Branch who purchase body armor for the probation officers.

DELAWARE
Delaware, like most states, has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. Retailers of body armor are not affected by this.

FLORIDA
Florida, like most states, has body armor laws that make it illegal to wear body armor when committing a crime. Retailers of body armor are not affected by this.

Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Florida except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

GEORGIA
Georgia, like most states, has a law put in place that makes wearing body armor illegal while trafficking drugs or during commission of violent crimes. It doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.

Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Georgia except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

HAWAII
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Hawaii except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

IDAHO
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Idaho except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

ILLINOIS
There are no additional body armor laws in Illinois in relation to retailers. Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Illinois except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online. But, individuals are not allowed to wear body armor when in possession of dangerous weapons other than firearms during attempted commission or commission of any offense. Unlawful body armor use is Class A misdemeanor.

INDIANA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Indiana except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online. People who intentionally or knowingly use body armor when committing felony will commit unlawful body armor use, which is a Class D felony. The new law states that people who intentionally or knowingly use body armor when committing felony commit unlawful body armor use, which is a Level 6 felony. The law doesn’t affect retailers, only criminals.

IOWA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Iowa except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

KANSAS
In Topeka City, Kansas, it is not legal to carry, wear, or possess bulletproof vests during parades, rallies, demonstrations, assemblies, and protests. The statute doesn’t affect retailers.

Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Kansas except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

KENTUCKY
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Kentucky except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

LOUISIANA
Like most states, body armor laws in Louisiana state that it is not legal to wear body armor on school property or during commission of crime. It doesn’t affect retailers of body armor.

Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Louisiana except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MAINE
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Maine except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MARYLAND
Body armor laws in Maryland mandate that anyone with prior conviction for drug trafficking or crime of violence is not allowed from possessing, purchasing, or using bulletproof body armor with no permit issued by Secretary of the Maryland State Police.

People with prior conviction for drug trafficking crime or crime of violence may, with good cause shown, file a petition with the Secretary for permit to purchase, possess, and use bulletproof body armor.

MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts, like most states, has body armor laws that make it a felony to wear body armor when committing a crime. Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Massachusetts except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MICHIGAN
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Michigan except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MINNESOTA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Minnesota except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MISSISSIPPI
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Mississippi except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MISSOURI
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Missouri except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

MONTANA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Montana except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

NEBRASKA
Anyone can buy and use bulletproof vest in Nebraska except those with felony conviction. Bulletproof vests and other body armor can be bought face to face or online.

NEVADA
Anyone can use and buy bulletproof vest, unless she or he has been convicted of felony. The bulletproof vests and other body armor may be bought face to face or online.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
It has laws in place, which make committing crimes while wearing bulletproof vests a felony, yet New Hampshire doesn’t have laws in place, which prohibit selling bulletproof vests. A person will be considered guilty of class B felony if he attempts or commits any felony while wearing and using body armor.

NEW JERSEY
Adults can use and buy a bulletproof vest unless they are convicted of felony. Bulletproof vests and some types of body armor can be bought over the internet or at local stores. In addition to that, people can be charged separately just by wearing bulletproof vest while carrying out a criminal act. In New Jersey, practical effects are more jail fines and time. The separate penalties have different variety depending on the underlying crime’s seriousness.

NEW MEXICO
Anybody can use and buy bulletproof vests, unless they have been convicted of felony. People can buy all body armor and bulletproof vests face to face or online.

NEW YORK
Adults can use and buy a bulletproof vest unless adults have been convicted of felony. Buying body armor and bulletproof vests can be done face to face or over the internet. In accordance to the law of New York in unlawful wearing of bulletproof vests, people are guilty of unlawful wearing of body vests when acting either alone or with some people they commit violent felony offenses defined in the law while possessing firearms, shotguns or rifles and in furtherance and in the course of crimes they wear a body vest. Unlawful wearing of vests is class E felony.

NORTH CAROLINA
Like most states, North Carolina basically has laws in place that make it illegal to wear body armors during the crime committed. It doesn’t affect the body armor retailers. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests unless adults have been convicted of felony. Bulletproof vest and some body armor types can be bought over the internet or face to face.

NORTH DAKOTA
Anybody can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Other types of body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought over the internet or face to face.

OHIO
It doesn’t have other body armor laws. When compared to some states, adults can buy and utilize bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felon. The online market and local markets are the best places to buy the different kinds of body armor and bulletproof vests.

OKLAHOMA
Like numerous states, Oklahoma has laws in place that make them a felony to wear body armors during the crime was committed. It doesn’t affect the ones who sell the body armor. Anybody in Oklahoma can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. If you are wondering where to buy body armor and bulletproof vests, you can buy them in local stores or online.

OREGON
Anybody can use and buy bulletproof vests, unless they have been convicted of felony. Other types of body armor and bulletproof vests may be bought face to face or over the internet.

PENNSYLVANIA
It doesn’t have extra body armor laws. In this state, adults can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Bulletproof vests and other kinds of body armor can be bought over the internet or in local stores.

RHODE ISLAND
Adults in Rhode Island can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they are adults who are convicted of felony. Other body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought in various local stores or online stores. Back in year 2012, the General Assembly of the state passed a certain bill, which forbids anybody convicted of felony that’s a crime of violence from possessing or purchasing body armors. It doesn’t affect the one who are selling the bulletproof vests.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Like numerous states, South Carolina also has a law in place, which makes it illegal for people to wear body armor during the crime committed. However, it doesn’t have an impact to the retailers of the body armors. Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests unless adults have been convicted of felony. Other types of body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought in a local or online store.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Anybody can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Other kinds of body armors and bulletproof vests can be bought face to face or over the internet.

TENNESSEE
It has law in place, which makes it not legal to wear body armors during the crime committed. Unlawful wearing of the vests is class E felony. It doesn’t affect those who sell the body armors. In the state of Tennessee, adults can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Bulletproof vests and all kinds of body armors can be bought in the online or local market.

TEXAS
Anybody can use and buy bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. The local market and online market has every type of bulletproof vest and all types of body armors.

UTAH
Anybody can utilize and purchase bulletproof vests unless they have felony conviction. The bulletproof vests and some kinds of body armor can be bought face to face. There are also some online stores that offer these.

VERMONT
It doesn’t have any extra body armor laws. Adults can buy and utilize bulletproof vests in Vermont unless they have been convicted of felony. The other types of body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought in a local store. They can also be purchased in online stores.

VIRGINIA
It has an extra body armor law like lots of states. Anybody who commits crime of felony violation or violence has in their possession a knife or firearm and wearing body armor made to minimized the effects of the impacts of projectile or bullets will be guilty of class 4 felony. This law doesn’t affect the retailers. Adults can use and purchase bulletproof vests unless that adults have been convicted of felony. Other types of body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought in a local store or in the online market.

WASHINGTON STATE
Anybody can use and purchase bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. The other kinds of body armor and bulletproof vests can be bought locally or through different online stores.

WEST VIRGINIA
Anybody who wear or equipped with body armor while committed felony offense, an element of this is force, the physical harm to another, threat of force, or the presentment or use of firearms or some deadly weapons are guilty of felony. This doesn’t affect the retailers of the body armors. In the state of West Virginia, adults can consider purchasing and using bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Some kinds of body armor and bulletproof vests may be bought face to face or online.

WISCONSIN
Adults can buy and use bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. Bulletproof vests as well as some kinds of body armor can be bought in local stores or in online stores. However, in this state, donning bulletproof vests during felony conviction or a person attempted felony may result to addition felony conviction or add extra years to the prison sentence. This law basically affects particular individuals who could wear bulletproof vests, yet doesn’t affect the retailers.

WYOMING
Anybody can use and buy any kinds of bulletproof vests unless they have been convicted of felony. The best place to get other body armor and bulletproof vests is in local stores and in online stores.