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Federal Judge Strikes Down New York’s First-of-Its-Kind Body Armor Ban, Rules Body Armor Is an ‘Arm’ Protected by the Second Amendment
Key Takeaways
U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra Jr. ruled on October 21, 2026, that New York's body armor ban violates the Second Amendment.
The court held that body armor is an 'Arm' protected by the Second Amendment's plain text, requiring New York to show historical support for the ban.
New York's law barred law-abiding residents outside eligible professions from purchasing body armor for self-defense.
Benjamin Heeter and Firearms Policy Coalition filed the case in July 2024, with defendants including Attorney General Letitia James and other officials.
The court…
The skinny
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