Editing Bulletproof vest (section)

==Legality==
{| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="text-align:left"
|-
! style="width:80px;"| Country or region 
! style="width:60px;"| Ownership without license 
! style="width:50px;"| {{refh}}
|-
| {{flag|Argentina}} || {{No|Illegal}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/sacar-la-tenencia-de-chaleco-antibalas|title=Sacar la tenencia de chaleco antibalas|date=March 16, 2018|website=Argentina.gob.ar}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Australia}} || {{No|Illegal}} ||
|-
| {{flag|Brazil}} || {{Yes|Legal}} || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gauchazh.clicrbs.com.br/seguranca/noticia/2019/08/exercito-libera-diversos-calibres-para-venda-no-brasil-inclusive-alguns-de-fuzis-cjzcz9v3w02t801pa1aenkzz7.html|title=Exército libera diversos calibres para venda no Brasil, inclusive alguns de fuzis|date=August 15, 2019|website=GZH}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Canada}} || {{Maybe|Varies internally}} ||
|-
| {{flag|European Union}} || {{Yes|Legal}} ||
|-
|{{Flag|India}}
|{{Yes|Legal}}
|
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || {{Yes|Legal}} ||
|-
| {{flag|New Zealand}} || {{Yes|Legal}} ||
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}} || {{No|Illegal}} || Up to five years in prison<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/30/asia/thailand-uk-journalist-arrested/index.html|title=British journalist arrested in Thailand for carrying body armor|author=James Griffiths and Chieu Luu|website=CNN|date=30 May 2017}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || {{Yes|Legal}} || <ref>{{Cite web|title=Body Armour Laws in The UK|url=https://www.safeguardarmor.com/uk/articles/body-armour-law/|access-date=2020-06-04|website=www.safeguardarmor.com}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || {{Yes|Legal}} ||
|-
|}

===Australia===
In Australia, it is illegal to import body armour without prior authorisation from [[Australian Customs and Border Protection Service]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/ImportExport-LawMilitary.pdf|title=Welcome to the Department of Home Affairs|website=www.customs.gov.au}}</ref> It is also illegal to possess body armour without authorization in [[South Australia]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|SA|act|soa1953189|Summary Offences Act 1953|21B}} Body armour.</ref> [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Vic|act|cowa1990216|Control of Weapons Act 1990|8A}}.</ref> [[Northern Territory]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|NT|act|wca197|Weapons Control Act|9}}.</ref> [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|ACT|reg|pwr1997294|Prohibited Weapons Regulation 1997|12}}.</ref> [[Queensland]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Qld|reg|wcr1997290|Weapons Categories Regulation 1997|6}} Category E weapons.</ref> [[New South Wales]],<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|pwr1997294/sch1.html|Weapons Prohibition Act 1998}} Schedule 1 – prohibited weapons.</ref> and [[Tasmania]].<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Tas|act|poa1935140|Police Offences Act 1935|15E}} Body armour.</ref>

===Canada===
In all [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian provinces]] except for [[Alberta]], [[British Columbia]] and [[Manitoba]], it is legal to wear and to purchase body armour such as ballistic vests. Under the laws of these provinces, it is illegal to possess body armour without a license (unless exempted) issued by the provincial government.

As of February 2019, [[Nova Scotia]] allows “only those who require such armour due to their employment” to own body armor, such as police and corrections officers, citing the use of body armor by criminals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=GLOBEMD |date=2018-10-12 |title=Bill 32 – Body Armour Control Act – RA |url=https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/63rd_2nd/3rd_read/b032.htm |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Nova Scotia Legislature |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=The Canadian Press |date=2019-01-29 |title=Nova Scotia to impose restrictions on possession of body armour |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4997506 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=CBCNEWS}}</ref>

According to the Body Armour Control Act of Alberta which came into force on June 15, 2012, any individual in possession of a valid firearms licence under the Firearms Act of Canada can legally purchase, possess and wear body armour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.solgps.alberta.ca/programs_and_services/public_security/BACAct/Pages/default.aspx|title=Body armour permit}}</ref>

===European Union===
[[File:Bullet-resistant police vest for women with breast shaping in size S - Protection class SK 1 and Level IIIA - Police in Bavaria.jpg|thumb|Bullet-resistant police vest for women with breast shaping in size S – Protection class SK 1 and Level IIIA – Police in Bavaria]]
In the [[European Union]], the import and sale of ballistic vests and body armor is allowed. There is an exception for vests that are developed under strict military specifications and/or for main military usage; shield above the level of protection [[#Performance standards|NIJ 4]] are considered by the law as "armament materials" and forbidden for civilian use.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}} There are many shops in the EU that sell ballistic vests and body armor, used or new.{{Citation needed|date=September 2014}}

In [[Italy]], the purchase, ownership and wear of ballistic vests and body armor is not subject to any restriction, except for those ballistic protections that are developed under strict military specifications and/or for main military usage, thus considered by the law as "armament materials" and forbidden to civilians. Furthermore, a number of laws and court rulings during the years have rehearsed the concept of a ballistic vest being mandatory to wear for those individuals who work in the [[security guard|private security]] sector.

In the [[Netherlands]] the civilian ownership of body armour is subject to the European Union regulations. Body armour in various ballistic grades is sold by a range of different vendors, mainly aimed at providing to security guards and VIP's. The use of body armour while committing a crime is not an additional offence in itself, but may be interpreted as so under different laws such as resisting arrest.

===Hong Kong===
Under Schedule C (item ML13) of Cap. 60G Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations, "armoured or protective equipment, constructions and components" are not regulated "when accompanying their user for the user's own personal protection".{{quote without source}}

===United States===
[[File:FBI Hostage Rescue Team Agents.jpg|thumb|[[Hostage Rescue Team]] agents]]

United States law restricts possession of body armor for convicted violent felons. Many U.S. states also have penalties for possession or use of body armor by felons. In other states, such as [[Kentucky]], possession is not prohibited, but probation or parole is denied to a person convicted of committing certain violent crimes while wearing body armor and carrying a deadly weapon.  Most states do not have restrictions for non-felons.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pax|first=Bastion|title=Legality of Owning Body Armor in the United States|url=https://bastionpax.com/legality-of-owning-body-armor-in-the-united-states/|access-date=10 August 2024}}</ref>