Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§931 Prohibition on Purchase, Ownership, or Possession of Body Armor by Violent Felons

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 44 — FIREARMS › § 931

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

People convicted of a violent felony cannot buy, own, or have body armor. That covers felonies called "crimes of violence" under section 16 and similar state crimes that would count as violent if they happened in certain federal areas. A person can avoid punishment if they have a written note from their employer, given beforehand, saying the armor was needed to safely do lawful work, and they only used it while doing that work. "Employer" means a supervisor or, if there is no supervisor, any other employee.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §931

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 931

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110