Are night vision goggles legal?
In the USA, night vision scopes are legal in most states. The State hunting regulations state that the use of night vision devices is illegal in 13 states and not prohibited in 20 states. Other 17 states offer certain restrictions. It’s therefore important that you check your local state laws and see what restrictions have been set aside.
The legal aspect of buying or using a night vision scope for any activity varies from one state to the other. Before you decide to invest in these high-quality optics, make sure that you check with your state laws and see if it’s legal.
In previous years, night vision scopes were only used in the military and by law enforcement officers. However, with the modern advancements in the field of technology, most night vision scopes are readily available for professional hunters.
Because of this, some countries have put in some laws and regulations to regulate the ownership and use of night vision devices particularly for hunting.
Night Vision Goggles Legality in different Countries
These regulations are different from one state to the other. In Iceland, it’s illegal to use a night vision scope for hunting. However, in this state, the are no restrictions set on the night vision scopes themselves.
In a country like France, it’s illegal for civilians to own a Gen 3 night vision scope. It is also illegal for civilians to have any night vision device that can be mounted on the head, helmet, rifle, or tripod. However, it’s legal for civilians to own handheld night vision devices that are either Gen 1 or Gen 2.
Germany has its share of restrictions regarding which type of night vision scope civilians can have. First, a civilian can export any Gen 2 night vision device with the EU without any paperwork needed. However, they’ll need to have a BAFA export license to do the same from a Gen 3 night vision device.
When it comes to using a night vision scope, there are no restrictions for the civilians. However, you are not allowed to mount any night vision device on a rifle. Even though hunting at night with a night vision scope is legal, it remains illegal to mount the device on your hunting weapon. This situation is similar in Poland, Belgium, and several other EU nations.
In the USA, night vision scopes are legal in most states. The State hunting regulations state that the use of night vision devices is illegal in 13 states and not prohibited in 20 states. Other 17 states offer certain restrictions. It’s therefore important that you check your local state laws and see what restrictions have been set aside.
In most USA states, the use or exportation of Gen 3 night vision devices is illegal. If you are a foreigner, looking through any Gen device is prohibited. However, the majority of Gen 2 night vision scopes are legal to use and export. Here, the main restriction is regrading performance. You are allowed to use the device in any outdoor activity, but is should not have a resolution that’s beyond 65 lp/mm. If the state you live in allows the use of night vision scopes for civilians, make sure that you get a model that has a lower lp/mm than 65. This way, you’ll be able to use it peacefully knowing that you are on the safe side of the law.
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