Body Armor For Civilians....

Are you a civilian who owns body armor?

  • Total voters
    179
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Didn't take the time to read the debate that I'm sure ensued, so I'll just skip to my .02 :D

I'm sure alot of people think I'm paranoid. I'm not, really. It's just the fact that you NEVER EVER KNOW what will happen in the future. Never. I bought my armor as soon as I got back the last time. IIIA vest was 60 bucks off of ebay. I don't know why everyone doesn't have it, besides expense. I certainly don't know why anyone would be against it:confused:

One more thing...

I honestly think that people don't realize how fast bad things happen and how long it takes to get ready, especially after a shot of adrenalin. There is a reason why Soldiers sleeping in a patrol base sleep in their combat gear. For most of us it's just not reasonable to expect to be suddenly awakened and be clear headed enough to strap on all your gear. And even if you are one of those rare people who can wake from a sound sleep totally alert and clear headed, how much time do you think you are going to have?
Click to expand...

I can "vest up" in less than 5 seconds... it's not rocket science and a heckuva lot easier than throwing your entire combat load on and having your squad in the trucks ready to go and a mission card turned into COC in under 5 minutes when my squad was QRF:confused:
 
Last edited:
Okay guys, I finally got suited up. Can anyone put a name to the make/model of this armor? I don't know if I could get it all on for a home invasion, but I will be ready when the zombies come! It fits pretty snug while still allowing a full range of motion and the visor has a CATM (computer assisted targeting mechanism).



Like I said, there is an Ebay retailer selling these suits for $122, grab one while you can!



Master-Chief-is-Selling-His-Halo-3-.gif

I thought a little humor was lacking from this thread.
 
I'm sure alot of people think I'm paranoid. I'm not, really. It's just the fact that you NEVER EVER KNOW what will happen in the future. Never. I bought my armor as soon as I got back the last time. IIIA vest was 60 bucks off of ebay. I don't know why everyone doesn't have it, besides expense. I certainly don't know why anyone would be against it.
Click to expand...

Do you wear it everywhere? If you don't, what good is it going to do you? You're right, you never know what will happen. But you need to do a risk analysis and decide what's appropriate for your lifestyle. Surely you've filled out a risk analysis card before. Just apply the same principles to your lifestyle.

I can "vest up" in less than 5 seconds... it's not rocket science and a heckuva lot easier than throwing your entire combat load on and having your squad in the trucks ready to go and a mission card turned into COC in under 5 minutes when my squad was QRF.
Click to expand...

How far is it from the entry points in your home to where you sleep? How long do you think it would take an intruder to get from one to where you sleep? How fast can you cover the 20-30 feet from the door to the bedroom in most homes? How quick do you go from a deep sleep to wide awake? Without a sure way to wake you and slow them down, you don't have five seconds to wake up, figure out what's going on, don your armor and react to the threat.
 
Wow. Why should you be shocked about civilians owning body armor?? People who own body armor likely own it for similar reasons that they own guns. FOR THEIR PROTECTION!

What a silly question. :banghead:
 
How far is it from the entry points in your home to where you sleep? How long do you think it would take an intruder to get from one to where you sleep? How fast can you cover the 20-30 feet from the door to the bedroom in most homes? How quick do you go from a deep sleep to wide awake? Without a sure way to wake you and slow them down, you don't have five seconds to wake up, figure out what's going on, don your armor and react to the threat.
Click to expand...

Body Armor isn't even in the HD plan for me ;). If it was, I could get it on in plenty of time unless they brought a ladder. I don't wear the vest constantly, it's a tool that I got cheap and have stashed just in case. I'm not THAT paranoid, the just in case is for the same reason many of us have firearms in the first place... a vest very well may have came in handy during the aftermath of Katrina.

If someone were to incorporate it in the SD/HD plan, I'm not buying that an alarm going off and waking you from a deep sleep is going to SO discombobulate you that you can't put on a vest. Especially if it's PART of a total plan, to include a safe room, barricaded doors, alarms, cell phone for 911, or steel reinforced jams that will insure the first kick (or five) would pretty much be my alarm anyway. Of course, I wore one constantly for 4 years so I guess it would be second nature, even now, for me to slap it on in a matter of seconds.

The point is, if one DID choose to incorporate a vest in their plan, is that if you're not capable of donning the vest in a stressful situation then you aren't capable of calling 911 either... I wonder which one takes longer :rolleyes:

Note: Not for a second do I advise that anyone not make calling 911 one of their very first priorities in a HD situation. I was just making a point.
 
I own body armour. It stopped a knife to the chest.

Can't believe people think that body armour makes you dangerous. :mad:
 
I don't understand why anyone would deny law enforcement (civilians) from having equipment just as good and protective gear of the same quality as the military (non-civilians) has. For the rest of the citizenry, I don't feel strongly one way or the other. I personally don't like it and didn't when I was in the military...too danged hot and restrictive but had no choice but to wear it when directed.

I would not consider using body armor unless I was in a truly high risk civilian job like LEO, armored car guard, etc.
 
Folks, despite what I may have mistakenly put accross or what you may have mistakenly heard....

I do not care if the guy down the street owns body armor, and I will fight to the death his right to do so.

I think that some people have given some valid reasons for owning it.

I repeat - I do not care if the guy down the street owns body armor, and I will fight to the death his right to do so.

And one more time... I do not care if the guy down the street owns body armor, and I will fight to the death his right to do so.

I simply wanted to know why civilians used it.

Carry on...
 
Wow. Why should you be shocked about civilians owning body armor?? People who own body armor likely own it for similar reasons that they own guns. FOR THEIR PROTECTION!
Click to expand...

Rocky, did you read the entire thread or just respond without readin.

Would everyone please tell me thier native language so I can repeat that I DO NOT CARE IF PEOPLE OWN BODY ARMOR I was just curious about the reasons why FFS.

Mods, please close this thread. My question was answered and then some.....
 
hunting and body armor... I hate to say it, but unless you invest in a very, very good vest with plates. Most on the common rounds used for hunting are going to go right thru the vest. Also most of the vest that could stop a rifle bullet can only do it from the front. Too my knowledge no one makes a vest that will protect you from a rifle from the front, back and sides. ( most vests only do the front and back anyways) So in reality, if your hunting big game during rifle season, a vest is really going to do you no good. now bird hunting, it could help you, but I don't recomend hunting with cheny.
 
As a former police officer, I wore it years ago; it's not comfortable and in warm weather it was awful.

Other than armored car (definitely) I would want it if I worked at a check cashing / cash advance, liquor store, bank, pawn shop, or convience store; all those places seem to get robbed more than other places.
 
Think people! Think!

Body armor will be absolutely useless when the zombies come. A more prudent investment would be heavy steel entry doors with deadbolts, steel bars for your windows, and ammuntion.

If you're going to prepare, prepare properly!
 
DVD in Firefighter's Coat Blocks Bullet

DVD in Firefighter's Coat Blocks Bullet
Tue Feb 19, 11:05 PM EST

WALTERBORO, S.C. — A South Carolina man is thankful for a DVD that ended up taking a bullet for him. Colleton County Fire and Rescue Director Barry McRoy says he was leaving a Waffle House restaurant in Walterboro on Saturday morning when two men ran in fighting over a gun. Police say a bullet hit one of the struggling men, shattered a window and then hit McRoy.

The bullet hit a DVD McRoy was carrying in his pocket. He suffered a bruise but didn't realize he had been shot. As he told a police officer what happened he noticed a bullet hole in his jacket, the shattered DVD case and a piece of the bullet.

"I was saved by a DVD," McRoy says. "How lucky can you get?"

One man was arrested on assault and battery and gun charges.

The DVD was nicked. It was a gift from an employee who had recorded a TV show about fire extinguishers.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
Click to expand...


















SWAT.gif
 
I see body armor for sale in the Uncle Henry's and I just cannot see why a civilian would own it?
Click to expand...

You sound like Sarah Brady saying "I don't see why civilians should own assault rifles".

I don't personally own any body armor, but I can understand that it is a personal choice if someone wants to wear it. Some folks live in bad parts of town, others have dangerous jobs, and some just wear it because they want to. Do people really need to provide you with more reason than that?

Are you a country sheriff from CA or something?


...
 
I'm an LEO, so I obviously have a vest around the house. However, I personally see no reason why the average citizen would want to spend money on this stuff. It is hot, uncomfortable, breaths about as well as a plastic bag, and is not extremely useful in everyday life.

Having said that, I'm not opposed to civilians owning this type of protective equipment, I'd just personally rather spend my $500-900 on another firearm!

As such, if I wasn't in LE, I wouldn't own a vest myself...
 
I guess body armor is ok if you think you need it, but I think if it is used during the commission of a crime, then much stiffer penalties should apply.
 
Several sets of body armour. Fourteen century, Sixteenth century, and Seventeenth. I'm a re enactor ;)

I also have load outs for those eras as well as the Nineteenth and twentieth centuries. These could be used as defence/offense if need be.

To me this is preparedness. Having modern body armor would not mean wearing it all the time. Having it if things to to crud is better than trying to find it once they do. I still have a bunch to do on things I perceive needing first in an emergency. We are in hurricane country. I do not have a good means to bulk purify water yet. I do not have a chainsaw or generator...yet.

I'll hold off on the modern body armor until I feel there is nothing more important to get first. If it was given to me I would put it right next to the gun safe with the LBE's
 
I have an interceptor with hard plates and soft armor. It's just part of the SHTF survival pack I guess.

hunting and body armor... I hate to say it, but unless you invest in a very, very good vest with plates. Most on the common rounds used for hunting are going to go right thru the vest. Also most of the vest that could stop a rifle bullet can only do it from the front. Too my knowledge no one makes a vest that will protect you from a rifle from the front, back and sides. ( most vests only do the front and back anyways) So in reality, if your hunting big game during rifle season, a vest is really going to do you no good. now bird hunting, it could help you, but I don't recomend hunting with cheny.
Click to expand...

An interceptor can hold hard plates in the front, back and sides.
 
Why stop with body armor..why not armor your vehicles too...
Click to expand...

Nice snark. :rolleyes:

Though, if you could afford the initial expense and associated maintenance and such a vehicle would fulfill your driving needs, why not?

Body armor, as stated, is uncomfortable and impractical as daily wear for most folks, those are rational reasons to not wear it all the time if not a job or present threat requirement, but how, exactly, is driving a professionally armored civilian vehicle "wrong" or snark-worthy in any way?

Again, assuming it looks and performs to your personal driving requirements.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Can a civilian buy body armor?
Replies
17
Views
2K
Ryanxia
Ryanxia
S
  • Locked
Defeating personal body armor
Replies
6
Views
810
hso
hso
hso
  • Locked
AR500 Armor Recalls Level III Body Armor
Replies
2
Views
546
waterhouse
W
D
  • Locked
"Reporters' Body Armor" ???
Replies
5
Views
971
riverdog
R
A
  • Locked
  • Poll
Body Armor
2 3 4 5
Replies
120
Views
5K
gym
G
Back
Top