Well, since you can purchase bullet resistant backpacks (perfect for the parents who are over protective!). And you can buy kevlar lined clothing, BPVs should be completely legal. A Bullet resistant vest protects the vital organs from most handgun rounds, shotguns, shrapnel, and some rifle rounds. What should be illegal, is the trama plate which is what also stops high velocity rounds. a kevlar vest will stop a nine mil, but a .223 will go right through, but the trama plate will stop a .50 cal. In most states, anyone can buy the vest, but you must be military or law enforcement to purchase a trama plate.