VA
Virginia — Body Armor Regulation Profile
Statutes, eligibility requirements, shipping rules, and the dealer and agency directory for this jurisdiction.
Enhanced penalty
Civilian purchase
Yes
Online sale
Yes
Face-to-face
No
Profession-gated
No
Primary Statute
Va. Code §18.2-287.2
Strategic Context
- Gpo Sweet Spots
- rural sheriffs among 133 constitutional sheriffs (counties + independent cities)
- NoVA federal contractor site security + commercial
- Hampton Roads Navy + shipyard contractor security
- small independent-city PDs + sheriffs
- VA DCJS-registered private security
- VA Defense Force state-channel buyer
- VA community colleges + small-state universities
- Unique To VA Categories
- Pentagon_Force_Protection_Agency
- Federal_LE_training_hub_Quantico_FBI_DEA_ATF_academies
- Largest_Naval_Base_World_Norfolk
- CIA_HQ_Langley_SPS
- NGA_NRO_ODNI_intelligence_community_concentration
- Federal_contractor_corridor_NoVA_densest_in_US
- Huntington_Ingalls_Newport_News_largest_US_military_shipbuilder
- 133_constitutional_sheriffs_most_per_capita_US
- Brinks_Company_HQ_Richmond
- WMATA_tri_jurisdiction_transit_police
- MWAA_bi_jurisdiction_airport_police
- Liberty_University_largest_private_university_PD_US
- Virginia_Defense_Force_one_of_largest_US_state_defense_forces
- Security_clearance_concentration_TS_SCI_highest_per_capita
- Combined_NoVA_NCR_security_ecosystem
- Onboarding Friction Notes
- VA is enhanced_penalty tier; enhancement informational only; VA DCJS registration serves as profession verification proxy; TS/SCI clearance holders represent unusually-high-trust verification population
- Partnership Opportunities
- VA DGS/eVA state contract awardee
- Virginia Sheriffs' Association endorsement
- VACP endorsement
- VASCUPP higher-ed cooperative
- NoVA federal contractor corporate-security channel
- Hampton Roads Navy + HII contractor channel
- Brinks Company Richmond strategic relationship
- Pentagon FPA/CIA SPS federal channel for Phase 2
- Aggregated Demand Estimate
- 180000+ tactical-armor-eligible buyers in VA
- Federal Strategic Importance
- VA is one of two states (with MD) that anchor the US federal LE + intelligence + defense community. Phase 2 federal-channel expansion MUST anchor on VA given Pentagon FPA + CIA + Quantico + NoVA contractor ecosystem.
- Phase 2 Threshold Met By Va Alone
true
Detailed intelligence
Laws
Reviewed 2026-04-14Public
Laws
Laws — Virginia
Restriction tier: enhanced_penalty
Federal baseline
- 18 USC §931 — violent felons prohibited.
State statutes
Va. Code §18.2-287.2 — Wearing of Body Armor While Committing a Crime
- Codification: Virginia Code §18.2-287.2
- Summary: Any person who, while committing a crime of violence (as defined) or a felony violation of §18.2-248 (drug distribution), has in his possession any body armor designed to diminish the effect of the impact of a bullet or projectile, is guilty of a Class 4 felony.
- Penalty: Class 4 felony — 2 to 10 years imprisonment and/or fine up to $100,000.
- Source: VA Code §18.2-287.2
Civilian purchase
- Adults 18+ may purchase online or in-person.
- No dealer license required.
- Federal §931 applies; VA separately prohibits felons from possession of armor via crime-enhancement framework.
Local ordinances
None identified.
Recent changes (past 3 years)
None material.
Pending / proposed legislation
Monitor VA General Assembly.
ArmorOS compliance handling
- Civilians permitted 18+
- Federal §931 screening
- Standard flow
Regulations
Reviewed 2026-04-14Public
Regulations
Regulations — [STATE]
State agency administrative rules
[Any state-level agency rules implementing armor-related statutes — often from State Police, Dept. of Public Safety, or Department of State.]
Enforcement posture
[How rigorously the state enforces armor statutes, any notable enforcement actions.]
Sources
[AG opinions, state police guidance, state AG website links.]
Purchase channels
Reviewed 2026-04-15Free account
Purchase channels
Available to Free account members
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Dealer licensing
Reviewed 2026-04-14Free account
Dealer licensing
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Suppliers in state
Reviewed 2026-04-14Free account
Suppliers in state
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Tactical buyers
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
Tactical buyers
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
Law-enforcement breakdown
Per-agency detail — name-level coverage of municipal PDs, sheriffs, state police, corrections, National Guard, federal-in-state, transit/port, and university/campus police. Verified-industry subscribers only.
Major municipal PDs
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
Major municipal PDs
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
County sheriffs
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
County sheriffs
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
State police / highway patrol
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
State police / highway patrol
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
Corrections
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
Corrections
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
National Guard
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
National Guard
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
Federal agencies in-state
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
Federal agencies in-state
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
Transit & port authorities
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
Transit & port authorities
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
University & campus police
Reviewed 2026-04-15Verified Industry
University & campus police
Available to Verified Industry members
Tactical-buyer intel and LE agency breakdowns are limited to verified-industry subscribers — document review takes ~2 business days.
Authorized Dealers (4)
Atlantic Tactical, Inc.
New Holland
Safariland
Dana Safety Supply, Inc. (DSS)
Greensboro
Point BlankSafarilandArmor ExpressGH ArmorSurvival Armor
(336) 854-5536Website
Lawmen Supply Company (MES subsidiary)
Pennsauken
Point BlankArmor Express
(855) 529-6261
Law Enforcement Agencies (48)
VA Army + Air National Guard
national_guard
8,900
sworn
Virginia Department of Corrections
state_corrections
7,000
sworn
Virginia State Police
state_police
2,000
sworn
Fairfax County Police Department
county_pd
1,400
sworn
Virginia Defense Force
state_defense_force
1,200
sworn
Virginia Beach Police Department
municipal_pd
800
sworn
Pentagon Force Protection Agency
federal_police
750
sworn
Richmond Police Department
municipal_pd
720
sworn
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office
county_sheriff_full_patrol
700
sworn
Norfolk Police Department
municipal_pd
700
sworn
Prince William County Police Department
county_pd
700
sworn
Henrico County Police
county_pd
650
sworn