FAQ

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

1, Is it legal for civilians to own body armor in United States?

You may be surprised to learn that body armor is legal for almost anyone to possess or use in all 50 states within the United States. Oftentimes, consumers are under the impression that this type of protective gear is illegal to own unless they're a first responder, law enforcement officer or involved in the military services - but that is simply not true.

With the exception of the following restrictions, body armor is completely legal:

You must be a law-abiding civilian and intend to wear your armor for permitted uses.
You must not commit a crime while wearing armor. Such action will increase legal penalties significantly.
You must not have been convicted of a violent felony or intend to participate in criminal activities while wearing your armor.
You must purchase your armor face-to-face with a local dealer if you live in Connecticut or purchase your armor online and have it shipped to their location for pickup. This product cannot be shipped directly to a civilian in the aforementioned state.
Body armor is legal in 49 states, allowing you to wear and transport it across state lines without any hassle. However, it’s important to know that New York has some specific rules when it comes to body armor. In the Empire State, owning body armor is illegal unless you belong to certain specified professions. Check out this information from the New York Department of State for more details. Additionally, if you’re not part of those professions, it’s also against the law to travel into or through New York with body armor.

2, Armor sales restrictions in Canada

The Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia each control who can legally posses body armour. We will not sell body armour to persons or groups in these provinces without first obtaining a copy of the purchaser's documentation which provides proof that they are legally allowed to purchase body armour in their province of residency. For all other Canadian provinces and territories Compass Armor Gear Shop has an internal policy that customers who wish to buy "Armoured Products'" need to show one of the following ID's. Military, Police, EMS, Firefighter, Peace Officer, Security Licence, PAL or RPAL. This to the best of our ability will ensure that Armour does not fall into unwarranted hands. There are some circumstances where without one of the above ID we will consider on a case by case basis. Please contact us if you do not have the above ID. It is your responsibility to KNOW YOUR PROVINCES LAWS.

3, What does the “NIJ Rating” of body armor mean?

The single most important thing to look for when shopping for body armor is the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Rating. This rating is the ballistic standard of resistance used in the U.S. and throughout most of the world. Body armor becomes NIJ rated when it passes a strict set of guidelines at a NIJ certified 3rd party ballistic laboratory. The NIJ has been setting standards since 1972, and they’re the only nationally accepted baseline for the body armor worn by law enforcement and corrections officers. It’s the highest level of certification available and a long process for products to get their backing on ballistic performance, which means you can rest assured you’re getting nothing but the best. All Safe Life Defense products undergo ballistic testing at the NIJ-Certified, Oregon Ballistics Laboratory, and our results are always posted on each product page.

4, Tips On How To Buy The Best Body Armor

The decision to buy Body Armor requires much thought & consideration, as making a wrong choice in this case could actually prove fatal & life threatening in a worst case scenario. There are a few tips mentioned in the below write-up which will help in making a right choice.

Determine What Type Of Body Armor Is Required Depending Upon The Potential Threat.

According to the NIJ standards, the Body Armors can be classified into different types based on the level of protection they offer to the wearer.

o Type I – This lightweight Body Armor is the most basic types of protection that every officer is supposed to have. The Type I Body Armor effectively deflects .22 long rifle lead shots & .380 ACP full metal jacketed shots as well.

o Type II-A – Such type of Body Armor is capable of deflecting lower velocity 9mm and 40 S&W shots effectively.

o Other classifications include Type II (deflects 9mm; .357 Magnum), Type III-A (deflects High Velocity 9mm; .44 Magnum), Type III (deflects Rifle shots), Type IV (deflects Armor Piercing Rifle shots).

Determine How Comfortable The Selected Body Armor Type Is.

This is an important question to ask especially if the Body Armor is going to be utilized for daily routine use. Since the officer would need to wear the Body Armor for a major part of the day, it should be comfortable. The weight distribution should be equal, so as to avoid discomfort. It should not be so bulky so as to limit the mobility of the wearer. Also the heat buildup in the Body Armor is a big consideration as it will determine for how long the Body Armor can be worn at a stretch.

Select An Appropriate Body Armor Depending On The Body Coverage Provided.

The Body Armor should provide suitable coverage – front, back & sides & should be a perfect fit for the designated wearer. A proper fit means adequate coverage & protection to the wearer.

5, Maintenance Tips For Tactical Body Armor

In the recent years, with rising crime rate & advancement in firearm technology, the Tactical Body Armors have come to assume a critical role in ensuring the welfare & safety of the law enforcement officers & combat soldiers. There have been many developments in the basic design of the Tactical Body Armors since they were first introduced. There is no doubt about the fact that the Tactical Body Armors have a significant role in ensuring that law enforcement officers & soldiers are protected from projectile attacks.

Tips On How To Take Care Of The Tactical Body Armor

The typical Tactical Body Armor comprises of three components – the carrier garment, the trauma panels & the Kevlar panels. Almost Tactical Body Armors come with warnings/instructions attached to the inside of armor which should be diligently followed to ensure long life & excellent performance of the Body Armor.

The ballistic panel should never be machine or dry-cleaned. The bleach & other chemicals used in such cleaning processes could damage the Body Armor.

Another maintenance tip is to ensure that the ballistic panels are never exposed to the sunlight for an extended period.

The Body Armor should never be left in the trunk of the car for extended period of time as the heat could cause damage.

When in storage, the Body Armor should be laid down flat & it should be ensured that no other thing is kept on it.

The Body Armor should only be worn by the person for whom it is measured & fitted.

When dirty, the best thing to do would be to wipe down the Body Armor with a damp cloth.

Exposure to moisture can cause damage to the Body Armor & therefore it should be stored in a moisture proof area.

Compass International Corp. is a reputed Manufacturer, Exporter and Supplier.

COMPASS is committed to the research and development of advanced materials and their composite products, and uses innovative technology to manufacture tactical, military, shooting sports and law enforcement equipment.

COMPASS manufactures Anti-Ballistic Masks, Anti Ballistic Panels, Bullet Proof Vests, Bulletproof Ballistic Shields, Tactical Ballistic Protection Helmets and Visors, Tactical Body Armor, Anti-Riot Helmets, Anti-Riot Shields, Anti-Riot Armor, Anti Riot Batons, Anti Riot Kit, Military Police Duty Belts, Police Handcuffs, EOD Bomb Suits, Anti-Bomb/Ballistic Blankets, Tactical Plate-Carriers, etc.

With over twenty years of rich experience in the domain of defense product manufacturing, COMPASS believes in providing only the best to all the clients.

Apart from having four subsidiary offices in China, COMPASS also has three overseas offices in Hong Kong, Singapore & USA.

For more information about COMPASS, log on to https://www.compassint.cn/