Bullet Proof Vest

No such thing as a bulletproof vest.

Bullet resistant, yes.



They are legal in MN, but illegal to use in a crime.


Go figure.

According to a quick search of bulletproofme.com's FAQ page, it looks like there's a bill currently in the NYS assembly that would make it a crime to purchase a vest unless you're military or LEO.

So to answer your question - there doesn't seem to be any law against buying or owning one, yet. If this law passes, then obviously that will change.

Of course, if you're a felon, then you're already prohibited under Federal law.

I believe that there is a law against a felon owning a ballistic vest. I would own one if I had the money lying around to do so. I work as an asset protection officer (catch shoplifters) never know if they may try to stab or shoot you. So I hate that it could be illegal for someone in my profession, or even an armed private security guard to own one, ridiculous.

Article 270 of the NYS Penal code

270.20 Unlawful wearing of a body vest
1. A person is guilty of the unlawful wearing of a body vest when acting either alone or with one or more other persons he commits any violent felony offense defined in section 70.02 while possessing a firearm, rifle or shotgun and in the course of and in furtherance of such crime he wears a body vest.

Click to expand...

The crimes listed in 70.02 range from murder, kidnapping, manslaughter, rape, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a weapon, intimidating a withness, etc. It's only illegal to wear/possess if you are doing things that you know are wrong.

kingpin008 said:

According to a quick search of bulletproofme.com's FAQ page, it looks like there's a bill currently in the NYS assembly that would make it a crime to purchase a vest unless you're military or LEO.

So to answer your question - there doesn't seem to be any law against buying or owning one, yet. If this law passes, then obviously that will change.

Of course, if you're a felon, then you're already prohibited under Federal law.

Click to expand...

So you're saying that if this bill passes, it would be illegal for armored car guards to wear body armor? That doesn't sound right.

I have come across some websites that require military/LEO or independent security contractor ID to buy anything related to a vest. Though IDK if that is because of law or just the company's policy?

It reads to me like you need to be committing a violent felony, using a firearm illegally, and wearing the vest at the same time for it to be considered illegal wearing of a vest.
They are no fun to wear, not comfortable, expensive, but they can save your life.

Hi all,


Kingpin008 had relayed -

According to a quick search of bulletproofme.com's FAQ page, it looks like there's a bill currently in the NYS assembly that would make it a crime to purchase a vest unless you're military or LEO.

Click to expand...

I think they meant to call themselves "bulletresistme.com" since there are no such things as 'Bullet Proof Vests'...


Lol...


Just being playful...


But that is what everyone called them for half a Century or more - "Bullet Proof Vests".

I work as an asset protection officer (catch shoplifters) never know if they may try to stab or shoot you.

Click to expand...

The only part of a ballistic vest that'll even slow down a knife or other sharp weapon ( hunting arrows, for instance ) is the trauma plate... the roughly 4' x 8" ceramic or alloy plate in the center of the chest. The rest of the vest is fairly easy to poke a knife through, since Kevlar works by being very strong and hard to break. It's not appreciably more difficult than any other cloth to cut though.

So you would be wasting your time and money on a vest if you intended it as a defense against a knife.



J.

The rest of the vest is fairly easy to poke a knife through, since Kevlar works by being very strong and hard to break. It's not appreciably more difficult than any other cloth to cut though.

Click to expand...

That's not entirely true. Kevlar is harder to cut than most materials. The reason why knives, ice picks etc. will penetrate your standard concealable vest is because they retain an energy impulse behind them where as a bullet does not. The instant a bullet strikes a vest it begins to lose energy that it can not get back and thus is slowed to a stop. A knife how ever does not bleed energy because the attacker is still providing force behind it to replace that lost to the kevlar. Given a large enough sustained energy impulse and you could ram a baseball bat through kevlar.

Seriously, kevlar is a real pain in the rear to cut. I use some kevlar core rope for climbing anchors and whatnot, and you have to really saw on it to get through.

I bet you'd still get poked pretty good if somebody stabbed you through a kevlar panel, but I bet that it would take a bit of the energy out of it. Also if the knife wasn't very sharp it probably wouldn't be able to get through at all, and you'd end up with a really good bruise and maybe a fractured rib or two.

-J.

An arrow or a bolt will not penetrate a Safariland IIIa vest panel I was messing around with.

All I can tell you folks is that in the demonstration they gave at the Police Academy, both knives and hunting arrows ( The bladed variety, NOT field points ) made short work of the ballistic vests they used ( also level IIIa, as I recall).

Granted, that's been more than a decade ago, but the materials haven't changed that much.

Also, I have fabricated a few things from Kevlar... I didn't find it too difficult to cut or sew. Far easier than leather, as a matter of fact.

Anyway, I will certainly never rely on a ballistic vest as a defense against a knife... That's a chore best left to hard armor, not soft.



J.

I don't know what brand/type of vest it was, but a .375 H&H went all the way through it and the log that was wearing it.

You know, they do make stab-resistant vests... they're very popular among corrections officers...

That being said, no manufacturer of a standard concealable bullet resistant vest advertises it as also-stab resistant. If you want both, be prepared to pay more and carry more bulk.

Everything that's old is new agin: Chain mail

http://www.ringmesh.com/product_p/ns210.htm

Wear that over kevlar.

second chance refers to slash protection

cassandrasdaddy said:

second chance refers to slash protection

Click to expand...

slash != stab

They're two entirely different animals

There are slash resistant, and stab resistant vests, slash resistant is rated to protect from a hard slash from a very sharp edged weapon (they are rather thin), while the stab resistant is resistant to hundreds of pounds of force behind a sharp thin pointed device (examples: arrow, shank, knife point, nail, etc.
Kevlar for those who dont know is used in snake proof boots, and gloves, search gloves (which are very thin to provide good feel while doing seaches on suspect), vests (stab, slash, and bullet resistant).
Being a long time reptile hobbyist I have experience with these thin gloves that are completely resistant to viper and elapid fangs, they are very very thin, and soft, are made from thin kevlar (turtle skins, the name seems to ring a bell, but not 100% positive). I always preferred to handle them in a way as to not put myself at risk of being bitten, but maybe Im alot more responsible of a reptile handler.
Kevlar lined search gloves will prevent you from being stabbed by a dirty needle some junkie has in a pocket, or cut from a razorblade while searching the individual. These search gloves are so thin of kevlar and leather that you have complete feel to check for small objects, needles contraband, etc in an individuals clothes.
Never underestimate kevlar and its ability to protect you. There are certain things a vest of kevlar will not though, a rifle round will pass through it.
Second chance makes slash resistant vests, Taurus makes far better but bulkier stab resistant vests.
Nothing about the peoples republic of NY suprises me when it comes to their feeble attempts to take away their residents rights and privileges.

jed1124

Go here for National Institute of Justice standards (NIJ) table on body armor:

http://www.interamer.com/nij-standards-body-armor.htm

Click to expand...

Their website:

http://www.justnet.org/Pages/home.aspx

Click to expand...

Ok, Let me be more specific. Is it legal for me to own a " bullet resistant vest in the U.S of A. And wear it just because I like the feel of it.

Click to expand...

Probably not, due to the fact that if you "just like the feel of it", you're too damn crazy to be let run loose by yourself any way.

Seriously, a ballistic vest is probably the most uncomfortable thing I've ever worn. And anybody that wears one without being in a job or situation where they are VERY likely to be shot at MUST have a screw loose.
( Even clanking around in a full suit of 16th century Knight's armor would have to be at least as comfortable, if not more so. )


J.

Jamie C. said:

Seriously, a handgun is probably the most uncomfortable thing I've ever carried on my hip. And anybody that carries one without being in a job or situation where they are VERY likely to need it MUST have a screw loose.

Click to expand...

Just pointing something out...

PTK, a vest is far more uncomfortable than any firearm I've ever carried. So, you're not pointing anything out so much as making something up.

Also, there was just a report on the local news about an officer being in the hospital after being stabbed 3 times; once in the neck, once in the kidney, and possibly the face. The perp is also in the hospital after being shot by another officer.

All cops in that department wear ballistic vests while on duty. ( Metro/Davidson county Police, Nashville Tn. )

Edit: Here's a link to the story:
http://www.wsmv.com/news/22815025/detail.html

Anybody still want to count on a ballistic vest as a defense against a knife?


J.