If you Conceal and Carry, Do You Also Wear Body Armor?

[JTHunter]

IIRC, body armor is not allowed in Illinois.

 

[If1HitU]

I don't wear body armor,Will it help you if you get shot in the head or face? I don't think so,just my Opinion!

 

[ilbob]

IIRC, body armor is not allowed in Illinois.

Federal law more or less prohibits violent felons from having body armor.

18 U.S. Code § 931 - Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or possession of body armor by violent felons

Illinois has a law called unlawful use of body armor.

(720 ILCS 5/33F-2) (from Ch. 38, par. 33F-2)
Sec. 33F-2. Unlawful use of body armor. A person commits the offense of unlawful use of body armor when he knowingly wears body armor and is in possession of a dangerous weapon, other than a firearm, in the commission or attempted commission of any offense.

As I read it you could potentially be charged with this crime if you were wearing body armor and shoplifted a hatchet, since hatchets are one of the defined "dangerous weapons".

It is also an aggravating factor in increasing the punishment for UUW or AUUW.

720 ILCS 5/24-1.1(e) and 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6(d)(4). Read carefully. It is not all that easy to find but it is there.

As far as I know it is not generally illegal for law abiding citizens to wear or possess body armor in Illinois.

 

[hdwhit]

Jeff White wrote:
I won't wear it now unless I am expecting to get into a gunfight.

But how clear is your crystal ball that you can reasonably predict when you are going to be involved in a gunfight?

 

[hdwhit]

ChanceMcCall wrote:
So, the question is, how do you feel about the new concealable body armor, and do you own and wear it?

I'm hot-natured, so adding a bunch of synthetic fabric over my normal clothing was a recipe for exhaustion long before my shift was over. So, No, when I was a Federal LEO and ever since, I have not worn body armor except under circumstances where it was required.

 

[Danoobie]

I'm wondering, if I justifiably shoot and kill someone in self defense, how will my wearing body armor be used by a prosecutor and perceived by a jury?

Well that's simple, you defended yourself to death! Don't you know it's WRONG to thwart the entitled efforts of criminals? It's highly unethical to expect
someone else to support themselves. Where IS your PC?

 

[hdwhit]

If1HitU wrote:
I don't wear body armor,Will it help you if you get shot in the head or face?

I've seen the posts of guys shooting their pistols at distances like 25 feet. If they're aiming at your head, then body armor might be a good idea since their targets suggest they would aim for your head but hit you in the torso.

 

[JTHunter]

I've seen the posts of guys shooting their pistols at distances like 25 feet. If they're aiming at your head, then body armor might be a good idea since their targets suggest they would aim for your head but hit you in the torso.

G. Gordon Liddy (yeah, that guy!) used to have a radio show where one of his favorite lines was that "body armor doesn't cover everything" and he is correct ! If you are close enough, a 12 ga. blast to either the head or the groin will cause enough trauma. I am NOT advocating shooting anybody but, on the off-chance that you are attacked illegally by somebody wearing armor, now you'll have a better idea of how to defend yourself.

 

[Danoobie]

I DNK, I advocated for shooting someone in the jewels, for a lot of good reasons, and everybody went bananas.
They didn't want to hear about nerve centers, vital arteries and organs, impaired movement, pain, psychological trauma,blood loss,
harder to move a target centered lower on the body, or muzzle rise giving CBM coverage.

So I would imagine shooting somebody there because of body armor is also out...

 

[Hanshi]

I do have body armor but have never worn it. It's bulky and uncomfortable and is/can be illegal to own or wear. Y'a see, when government enforcers shoot you, they want you to die. Don't die, and get arrested. Go figure.

 

[DesertVet]

I keep soft level 3A vest with multi threat plates in a “Police Raid Type” external carrier that holds CAT tourniquet, SureFire, extra mags in the back seat of my pickup in case I have to “introduce myself” off duty.
Better to have it and not need it that to need it and not have it.
I also have a hard plate carrier and soft concealable body armor at home just in case in addition to my vest at my office.
If there is time why would someone not utilize body armor if bad guys with guns are around?

 

[rpenmanparker]

I used to wear body armor, but now I just sit at home in my panic room and watch Fox News. Much safer.