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Civilian Access to Body Armor Stirs Debate
Wall Street Journal ^ | June 17, 2016 | Ben Kesling

Posted on 06/18/2016 3:01:42 PM PDT by KeyLargo

Civilian Access to Body Armor Stirs Debate

Officials worry about bulletproof equipment ending up in criminals’ hands; shooting in Orlando highlights issue

By Ben Kesling June 17, 2016 5:30 a.m. ET

Weeks before Omar Mateen went on an Orlando shooting spree, he stopped at a gun shop trying to buy body armor capable of stopping police handgun rounds. The store didn’t carry such armor.

Had Mateen just gone online, he could have easily gotten armor capable of stopping not only handgun fire, but bullets from SWAT team snipers or even armor-piercing rifle ammunition—shipped right to his door with few questions and no meaningful background check.

The mass shooting in Orlando has sparked fresh calls for an assault weapons ban and other efforts to make certain types of guns more difficult to get. But body armor, which could make a shooter much more difficult to stop, remains relatively unregulated.

Law-enforcement officials and some manufacturers worry that the bulletproof equipment will increasingly show up in criminals’ hands.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; bodyarmor; bulletproof; orlando; police
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1 posted on 06/18/2016 3:01:42 PM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: KeyLargo

So only government officials and big shots deserve protection from assailants?


2 posted on 06/18/2016 3:03:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: KeyLargo

Why shouldn’t we be allowed as much protection as the government?


3 posted on 06/18/2016 3:06:04 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; KeyLargo

I used to enjoy reading Ferfal’s website, in which he talks about life in a country that has unraveled.

He has several good points and one of them is your need for body armor for yourself and your family. His recommendation is to get it while you can, because later it can be much more difficult and expensive.


4 posted on 06/18/2016 3:07:42 PM PDT by marron
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To: trisham

No worries ...... a fifth of good scotch will make me ten foot tall and bulletproof.... guess it will have to do if they ban body armor.


5 posted on 06/18/2016 3:09:24 PM PDT by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: marron

It’s not perfect, though. Archduke Franz Ferdinand was wearing a surprisingly modern vest, yet he died anyway.


6 posted on 06/18/2016 3:10:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: KeyLargo

Level 3a armor doesn’t stop armor piercing rifle ammo...in fact, won’t stop most high power rifle ammo.....this is the only level available to civilians....level 4 is military.... The armor the Orlando terrorist tried to purchase was level 3a.....
Stupid WSJ writer and editor....


7 posted on 06/18/2016 3:10:49 PM PDT by nevergore
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To: Squantos

It’s insane.


8 posted on 06/18/2016 3:11:22 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: KeyLargo

It’ll stop AP rifle ammo? What caliber AP ammo? I wouldn’t trust Level III with plates that far. Granted, I’m not current in the subject, but that seems like a tall order.

I want a vest that will stop 120mm APDSFS. I’ll look like a 30 foot in diameter beach ball while wearing it. I won’t be able to walk in it, I’ll have to be rolled everywhere by a team of assistants. I’d only be able to wear it in arctic conditions, elsewhere it’d be too hot.


9 posted on 06/18/2016 3:11:29 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: trisham

“Why shouldn’t we be allowed as much protection as the government?”

I believe that you would have to start with at least an air-force....

But, anyway personal armor good for additional home defense.


10 posted on 06/18/2016 3:12:28 PM PDT by KeyLargo
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To: KeyLargo

Ah, somebody finally gets what the real target is.


11 posted on 06/18/2016 3:13:19 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamiin Franklin)
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To: Squantos

Bullletproofme.com.

No relationship other than a satisfied customer.

L


12 posted on 06/18/2016 3:14:00 PM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Only the nobility may wear armor ... has a sort of medieval ring to it, eh?


13 posted on 06/18/2016 3:14:41 PM PDT by katana
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To: KeyLargo

You’re right, of course. Still...


14 posted on 06/18/2016 3:16:57 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: marron
So, do these people that buy body armor for themselves hope to be shot by someone else or a LEO? It seems suicidal on it's face. They are purposefully putting themselves in a situation where this very thing could happen.
15 posted on 06/18/2016 3:18:22 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
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To: Squantos

First thing I discovered when someone took me coyote hunting with a rabbit call is what a different proposition it is to shoot and hit something running directly at you full tilt.

I also decided I liked coyotes and I didn’t want to shoot them :)


16 posted on 06/18/2016 3:18:33 PM PDT by Ketill Frostbeard ("Be shoemaker or shaft maker for thyself alone: imperfection for strangers earns curses." ODIN!!!)
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To: KeyLargo

Armored backpacks are already available, for the children. How are defensive technologies inherently bad?


17 posted on 06/18/2016 3:19:11 PM PDT by Paladin2 (auto spelchk? BWAhaha2haaa.....I aint't likely fixin' nuttin'. Blame it on the Bossa Nova...)
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To: KeyLargo
They should be selling these at the 7-11s in Chicago.

But then again BLMs not so much to themselves.

18 posted on 06/18/2016 3:21:40 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist
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To: KeyLargo

Wait ‘til the force field device replaces that cumbersome Kevlar, ceramic and steel stuff.


19 posted on 06/18/2016 3:23:13 PM PDT by Iron Munro (If liberals were in charge of the oceans, in 5 years the water would be gone.)
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To: nevergore

Lvl IV is available to everyone.


20 posted on 06/18/2016 3:23:24 PM PDT by Bogey78O (We had a good run. Coulda been great still.)
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