Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: Paladin2

I am a recovering aircraft engineer. I wore a bullet proof vest and neck protector when testing certain carbon fiber assemblies. And I got them, WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!!


41 posted on 06/18/2016 4:38:51 PM PDT by Organic Panic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: gigster

Gigster, body armor is great to have when shooting with groups. Some carbine/ pistol/ rifle classes require attendees to wear body armor. And it’s not a bad idea when making a routine trip to the range.
Makes a negligent/ accidental discharge a whole lot less serious if your vest catches a round vs. not having a vest.


42 posted on 06/18/2016 4:38:52 PM PDT by La.daddyrabbit (I had a pretty funny tagline until they made me remove it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

A while back I made my first set of body armor using 18 gauge weldable steel plate that you can get at most home improvement or farm supply stores for not too many dollars.
A plate carrier vest is $50-100.
The steel trauma plates used in armor are between .125 and .375 inches thick.The thicker ones are rated for .308 rifle rounds so for pistols a .125 thickness is sufficient.

It’s reasonable to think, isn’t it, if you are shooting in anger, someone may be shooting back?
So, I s’pose I’m saying, it’s prolly going to be a bad time to start thinking about things like this when everyone else is thinking about them too.

OK, back to amusing one another.


43 posted on 06/18/2016 4:41:01 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: sergeantdave

“Those billions of rounds of ammo ordered by the mail carriers and the fat clowns at the ATF? Help yourself.”

There is another possibility. Just like the current regime likes to pick and choose who they will arm in muslim countries and other turd world s**t holes, they may have plans to do the same here, and I highly doubt they’ll be supplying arms and ammo to the patriotic Bible toting bitter clingers.


44 posted on 06/18/2016 5:21:29 PM PDT by Carthego delenda est
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: nevergore
http://www.ar500armor.com/ar500-armor-level-iv-composite-body-armor-10x12.html
45 posted on 06/18/2016 5:24:52 PM PDT by SVTCobra03 (You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

Thanks Lurker !!

Stay Safe !


46 posted on 06/18/2016 5:31:43 PM PDT by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Carthego delenda est

“and I highly doubt they’ll be supplying arms and ammo to the patriotic Bible toting bitter clingers.”

I never said that, did I?


47 posted on 06/18/2016 5:34:03 PM PDT by sergeantdave ( If not you, who? If not now, when?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

A night-shift cashier at an inner-city gas station or convenience store is more likely to find himself with a gun pointed at him than the average cop, and thus has just as much need for body armor.


48 posted on 06/18/2016 5:34:45 PM PDT by PapaBear3625 (Big government is attractive to those who think that THEY will be in control of it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nevergore

You can put plates in 3a gear to up their level.


49 posted on 06/18/2016 5:40:52 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

I have two sets of Second Chance. Bought them from the widow of an ex-policeman I knew. He bought them through the department when he retired. Stored them carefully and never used them. Luckily, he was as fat as I am. They were given to me when he died. I have been storing them carefully, too.


50 posted on 06/18/2016 5:43:01 PM PDT by jim_trent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

Rifles will still penetrate IIIA.
I buy from a guy in Israel.


51 posted on 06/18/2016 5:57:05 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal (Ismael's descendants have been murdering since 1900 BC - it's "racist" to acknowledge that fact)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Roman_War_Criminal

You can put a level iv plate in 3a.


52 posted on 06/18/2016 6:30:45 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: sergeantdave

“I never said that, did I?”

I didn’t say you did, nor was I implying such.


53 posted on 06/18/2016 6:46:27 PM PDT by Carthego delenda est
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

“You never want to let a good crisis go to waste.”

It’s now the unofficial slogan of the US government.


54 posted on 06/18/2016 6:58:47 PM PDT by RWB Patriot ("My ability is a value that must be earned and I don't recognize anyone's need as a claim on me.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: La.daddyrabbit
...Some carbine/pistol/rifle classes require attendees to wear body armor. This might seem strange, but I've never taken a firearms class in my life. The only exception lately was the one hour of range time that I needed to have to qualify for my Concealed Pistol License here in Michigan. I've been shooting for close to 45 years years, and have never seen or experienced, in the hundreds of hours I've spent shooting, any mishaps or accidental discharges. My shooting buddy had a squib happen to him in the barrel of his .38 special one day at the range, and that's the only firearm malfunction I've seen in my life. I have been immersed in the shooting sports/education lifestyle since I grew up in Detroit. I could probably teach classes with the experience and education I've had in my life.
55 posted on 06/18/2016 8:58:03 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: KeyLargo

Access to a sufficient supply of professionally-made body armor is one of the few things that will give a rebel force a shadow of a fighting chance. One of the reasons jihadis get their arses kicked in combat so regularly by serious military forces is that they don’t have to take a dead-on hit from a bullet - shrapnel tears up your arm or something red-hot falls on your back, you’re not dead but you’re out of the fight just as much as the guy who got his head blown off. Body armor isn’t just to keep you alive but keep you in fighting condition from petty crap that would send an unarmored fighter limping back for weeks of recuperation.

Don’t think the Kenyan Klown and his minons don’t know this.


56 posted on 06/18/2016 9:10:31 PM PDT by Laser_Ray (Another nifty idea)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tumblindice

Could you please translate the Cyrillic word. I only have russian heritage, and can’t read the language.


57 posted on 06/18/2016 10:08:24 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: jim_trent

Second Chance used to be located in Central Lake, Mi., where I used to ride my Harley on occasion.


58 posted on 06/18/2016 10:13:56 PM PDT by gigster (Cogito, Ergo, Ronaldus Magnus Conservatus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Apparently, and the American People be damned!


59 posted on 06/18/2016 11:57:09 PM PDT by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: sheik yerbouty
Apparently, and the American People be damned!

I do believe that is precisely the legacy that Obama intends to leave.

60 posted on 06/19/2016 1:11:06 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson