AmmoLand reports federal judge struck down New York body armor purchase ban

Reported by AmmoLand Shooting Sports News and News2A. Daily Gun News has not independently confirmed this.

A federal judge has ruled against New York's ban on civilian purchases of body armor, according to a report from AmmoLand Shooting Sports News published on October 22, 2026. News2A also reported the decision the same day, describing it as a ruling from a federal district court.

AmmoLand reports that the judge found protective armor falls within the protection of the Second Amendment. The outlet characterizes the outcome as a significant win for the Firearms Policy Coalition.

News2A reports that New York argued in court that body armor is merely a tactical accessory, and that the judge rejected that view. In News2A's assessment, the judge's reasoning could apply to more than vests, though the outlet's summary does not say which other items or laws it has in mind.

AmmoLand also reports that the injunction issued in the case has been temporarily stayed. Based on that report, the ruling against the ban is not described as currently in effect. The News2A summary does not mention the stay.

Neither report, as available to Daily Gun News, names the judge, the specific district court, or the case. Neither gives the date of the ruling or the date of the stay, and neither says who requested the stay or how long it is expected to last. Daily Gun News has not reviewed the court's opinion or the stay order, and no court document was available for this story.

The reports also do not say whether New York officials plan to appeal or which types of body armor the ruling addresses.

What is not yet known: It is not yet known when the temporary stay will end, whether the decision will be appealed to a higher court, or when, if ever, the injunction against the ban could take effect. Those details may become clearer once the court's filings are publicly available.