Can Body Armor and Tactical Gear be Shipped or Taken to Puerto Rico?
Can Body Armor and Tactical Gear be shipped to Puerto Rico?
A lot of customers' ask if they can take their body armor to Puerto Rico? The short answer is YES according to the Code of Federal Regulations. So we wanted to go over that. Puerto Rico is a US Territory and all Federal Laws apply there just like mainland America. There was some debate over whether body armor could be shipped there. So according to the Government resource titled:
22 CFR § 123.12 - Shipments between U.S. possessions.
Source: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-M/part-123/section-123.12
An export license is not required for the shipment of defense articles between the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and U.S. possessions. A license is required, however, for the export of defense articles from these areas to foreign countries, unless it is one set for personal use see the regulation for this below:
Traveling out of the United States and US Territories to a foreign country:
For your reference if you are traveling outside of the United States and its territories there is an excemption that allows you to take one set of personal body armor out of the USA. It falls under regulation:
§ 123.17 Exemption for personal protective gear.
(a)–(e) [Reserved]
(f) Port Directors of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall permit U.S. persons to export temporarily from the United States without a license one set of body armor covered by U.S. Munitions List Category X(a)(1), which may include one helmet covered by U.S. Munitions List Category X(a)(6), or one set of chemical agent protective gear covered by U.S. Munitions List Category XIV(f)(4), which may include one additional filter canister, provided:
(1) The person declares the articles to a CBP officer upon each departure from the United States, presents the Internal Transaction Number from submission of the export information through CBP's electronic system(s) per § 123.22 (unless electronic reporting of such information is unavailable, in which case U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue instructions), and the articles are presented to the CBP officer for inspection;
(2) The body armor, which may include a helmet, or chemical agent protective gear, which may include one additional filter canister, to be exported is with the individual's baggage or effects, whether accompanied or unaccompanied (but not mailed); and
(3) The body armor, which may include a helmet, or chemical agent protective gear, which may include one additional filter canister, to be exported is for that person's exclusive use and not for reexport or other transfer of ownership. The person must declare it is his intention to return the article(s) to the United States at the end of tour, contract, or assignment for which the articles were temporarily exported.
(g) The license exemption set forth in paragraph (f) of this section is available for the temporary export of body armor or chemical agent protective gear for personal use to countries listed in § 126.1 of this subchapter provided:
(1) The conditions in paragraph (f) of this section are met; and
(2) The person is affiliated with the U.S. Government traveling on official business or is traveling in support of a U.S. Government contract. The person shall electronically submit documentation to this effect, along with the Internal Transaction Number from U.S. Customs and Border Protection's electronic system(s), unless electronic reporting of such information is unavailable, in which case U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue instructions.
(h) The license exemption set forth in paragraph (f) of this section is available for the temporary export of body armor, which may include a helmet, or chemical agent protective gear, which may include one additional filter canister, for personal use to Iraq, provided the conditions in paragraph (f) are met, and the person is either affiliated with the U.S. Government traveling on official business or is traveling in support of a U.S. Government contract, or is traveling to Iraq under a direct authorization by the Government of Iraq and engaging in activities for, on behalf of, or at the request of, the Government of Iraq. The person shall electronically submit documentation to this effect, along with the Internal Transaction Number using U.S. Customs and Border Protection's electronic system(s), unless electronic reporting of such information is unavailable, in which case U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue instructions. Documentation regarding direct authorization from the Government of Iraq shall include an English translation.
(i) The license exemption set forth in paragraph (f) of this section is available for the temporary export of body armor, which may include a helmet, or chemical agent protective gear, which may include one additional filter canister, for personal use to Afghanistan, provided the conditions in paragraph (f) are met.
(j) If the articles temporarily exported pursuant to paragraphs (f) through (i) of this section are not returned to the United States, a detailed report must be submitted to the Office of Defense Trade Controls Compliance in accordance with the requirements of § 127.12(c)(2) of this subchapter.
(k) To use the exemptions in this section, individuals are not required to be registered with the Department of State (the registration requirement is described in part 122 of this subchapter). All other entities must be registered and eligible, as provided in §§ 120.15(d) and 120.16(c) and part 122 of this subchapter.
Disclaimer:
This is not legal advice. This is for informational purposes only. Please seeks legal advice if necessary and do your own research using the sources provided and other body armor laws.
