Bulletproof Vests?

I might consider wearing it between Thanksgiving and Christmas, since 'tis the season to be robbed.

expvideo said:

That's a load of crap and you know it. You could say the same thing about any major purchase, and just because I can't afford to spend $400-600 on a vest doesn't mean I don't value my life. You don't have to come in here and be a snob and act like those of us that can't afford to pay for added safety don't value our lives. I'm really sick of this attitude.

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i think you're reading too much into my post.

of course it is absurd to say that just because you don't buy body armor, you don't value your life.

in relative terms, however, it's cheaper to buy body armor than to move to a new neighborhood. in that context, what's $400 to protect your life?

If ya got it cool,

If ya don't cool,

Whatever you want

I would recommend (If you are going to be protecting family) a Kevlar Blanket, Oh and don't worry what the haters say, it is not mn to own one.

One of the minuses of having, but not using body armor, on a periodic basis is you forget how they change/restrict your body movement.

If you don't get into as habit of putting it on and moving with it at least now and again you quickly forget.

It's your money. I've thought about purchasing some "just because" but I have no practical use for it.

http://bulletproofme.com/
http://www.practicaltactical.net/prostores/servlet/-strse-Protective-Equipment/Categories

a Kevlar Blanket

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I think you were joking, but those actually exist : http://bulletproofme.com/Ballistic-Blankets.shtml

A vest seems like a good idea to me, if you're going to have to shoot, isn't there a good chance you will get shot. (Of course, I've never worn one, so they are probably more uncomfortable than I imagine)

Now that I have my CCW I want a BP vest!

I have a vest that I got when I did repo work in Flint, MI. It still didn't give me a very "safe feeling" . But it sits in the gun room now.

I do think it's odd that people berate others over wanting body armor, only because the arguments they use, i.e. "you should move" "you must be paranoid" , could apply equally to carrying a firearm, and most people on this board do carry. So if you want some, do it, and don't let people tell you otherwise.

Just my $0.02

What is everyone's stance on bullet-proof vests? Are they a necessity or do you think they are too cumbersome to be worn daily, thereby reducing their chances of protecting one's life. Also, are the purchases of vests as closely regulated as firearms(i.e. background checks, waiting periods, etc.)?

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I wear one for my job but for the life of me, I can't think of a reason why a regular citizen would wear one unless they work in a job that could possibly bring them into harms way.

i think you're reading too much into my post.

of course it is absurd to say that just because you don't buy body armor, you don't value your life.

in relative terms, however, it's cheaper to buy body armor than to move to a new neighborhood. in that context, what's $400 to protect your life?

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I'm just tired of hearing "isn't your life worth $x" on every gun board I read. Sure I value my life, but I also have a very low income. I'm really tired of having people tell me that I don't just because I won't spend my rent and food money on level III body armor. I didn't take your post out of context. It is you that apparently doesn't understand how it could be taken in an offensive way.

Being of low income, I manage to have weapons that I shoot as often as I can, which is not very often, a cell phone, a vest, a breakdown kit and other stuff that I see as necessary in my daily life. But I still have to listen to this BS that I don't value my life because I won't fork out $400 for a nice vest, or $1000 for some actual training, or whatever else I'm told "isn't your life worth more than". I value my life enough to do everything I can to protect it. Spending my food and rent budget on a fancy vest or instruction is not an option. Maybe instead of trying to convince me that I'm misunderstanding your point, you should rethink your point and consider that what is reasonable money to spend for you is not what is reasonable money to spend for me. When was the last time you had to make $50 last 2 weeks? Think about it. Choose between food and gas to get to work, and then have someone tell you that you must not value your life or you would spend $400 on a vest or move to a nicer neighborhood.

I can't remember ever meeting anyone who regularly wore a bullet proof vest outside of law enforcement, military, and security circles; and then only on duty.

I have met folks who bought them, believing that they would wear them regularly, before relegating them to the closet or trunk, and eventually disposing of them after the expiration date. An expensive lesson in perceived vs. practical priorities.

I have also met folks who purchased armor to back rifle plates, with the obvious intention of only being deployed as needed and with an understanding, or at least a more realistic understanding, of the odds.

My Vest

Mr. White is right on..... I wear one every day for work and it's hot, rigid, bulky ("you look fat"....ummm....ma'am, it's just the vest"). Oddly enough, on my days OFF my back tends to hurt from being "splinted" all week, it smells, etc. etc. Also, they may only be rated for certain calibers, won't stop slow kinetic attacks like ice picks, large knives, etc. Overall I feel "better" wearing one at work. They do have limitations, however, before considering wearing one. Also, to stress, they MAY BE AGAINST THE LAW to own/use in your area. Felony in some areas.....is it worth it??

I hope no one laughs at me, but I was not even aware that bullet-proof vest had expiration dates. Why is that so? does the material deteriorate over time?

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Kevlar and its close cousins in the Bullet Resistant materials arena are synthetic fibers. Like Nylon they can deteriorate, especially if repeatedly exposed to UV light, like sunlight.

Rock climbers deal with similar issues in that the synthetic fiber ropes used can also deteriorate over time even without extreme use, just by being out in the sun.

If kept in cool, dark, dry places the odds of significant deterioration are greatly reduced. But repeated exposure to extreme conditions or sunlight can have negative impacts on the materials.

expvideo said:

It is you that apparently doesn't understand how it could be taken in an offensive way.

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try decaf next time.

you know, the whole world isn't trying to piss in your corn flakes every morning.

try decaf next time.

you know, the whole world isn't trying to piss in your corn flakes every morning.

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I see there isn't going to be any understanding here. Enjoy your valuable and well invested in life. I hope it is long and comfortable and that you never have to understand where I am coming from.

Let's be straight-up with regard to this question. How many of us own EBR's or other evil-looking guns just in case of a civil uprising? That is the spirit of the 2nd Amendment, is it not?

I'm not one to look for trouble but, in that sort of situation, if trouble comes to you, a bullet-proof vest is a crucial survival tool and often makes the difference between life and death. Having a rifle for this purpose but nothing more is only being partly prepared, IMO.

body Armour sucks big time wearing it day in day would suck a lot especially if not job related.
if its seriously that bad time to get the hell out

I don't feel the need to wear it in my everyday life, but I've considered one to wear when I'm at the range, what with some of the morons encountered there.

I'm hanging onto that for use in shoothouse training at classes. If it wasn't for that, I'd probably sell it.

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This is one of the few practical reasons I can see for folks not 'on the job' to spend the money on armor. If you take a lot of classes, you may eventually find yourself looking at one that requires armor. Such classes often have loaner gear, but some do not. If you fall into this category, it may make sense to keep your eyes peeled for good deals on this type of gear.

A side benefit is that a vest or plate provides a nice, portable backstop for dry fire practice. There are, of course, cheaper alternatives

Sew your own

If anybody has a dear loved one who sews, or if you're handy with a sewing machine: just build a jacket out of bedsheets. I hear they make dandy bullet stops.

I saw an episode on "COPS" or some similar show where a police officer did a traffic stop on a guy and somehow realized the guy was wearing a vest.

The cop went ballistic on the guy and threw him on the ground and treated him like he was armed and dangerous just because he was wearing a vest.

After roughing the guy up, cuffing him, and heatedly questioning him and searching him and his car, the cop finally realized the guy had done nothing wrong and let him go, but not until after substantial physical abuse and heated questioning and accusations, and an admonishment to not wear a vest if he didn't want to be treated like that.

Apparently a guy wearing a vest is assumed guilty of something until proven innocent.

However, any citizen who wants to wear one should be able to wear one without being treated as a criminal, and if a riot happened, I'd want a vest and my handgun and rifle. I mean something like the L.A. riots. Even better, a gassed-up car to get the hell out of there.