A lot of people are under the impression that it’s illegal for regular people (civilians) to own armored vests, which are also called bulletproof vests and body armor. However, many states do allow civilians to buy and wear armored vests. They are relatively cheap to purchase, so anyone who really wants one could obtain one. Obviously, most people won’t go out and purchase one because there aren’t a lot of uses for an armored vest. The average person who isn’t out trying to rob banks or engage in shootouts won’t have a use for these vests. Still, there are plenty of uses for body armor.
What is an Armored Vest?
First of all, it’s extremely important to debunk some things surrounding armored vests. We’re going to talk about another name for them though: bulletproof vests. Under no circumstances are bulletproof vests actually bulletproof. Obviously, bullets can penetrate these vests and cause tons of bodily damage or even death. The truth of the matter is that you can easily live through a bullet hitting you but being stopped by the vest. However, this event can still cause broken ribs or extreme amounts of pain that could still technically kill you. Never fool yourself into believing that any of these vests are completely bulletproof.
Anyways, armored vests are designed to stop many types of bullets or pellets from entering into the body. These vests are made out of various materials, which usually includes Kevlar. Many vests contain various plates that constitute the “armor.” Also, these vests are usually meant to only stop low velocity handgun rounds and shotgun rounds. Faster velocity pistols and rifles will often rip right through common body armor. However, armored vests typically come in three different levels, the highest of which can resist rifle rounds and high-powered pistol rounds.
Body armor is usually lightweight to avoid slowing down the wearer, so most people will end up wearing armor that can stop shotguns and low-velocity pistols. Unfortunately, the armor that protects against more powerful ammunition is extremely bulky and heavy, so it isn’t practical. For your reference, armor-piercing rounds will go through pretty much any armored vest. You should never shoot someone with an armored vest to test if it works properly or let someone shoot yourself for the same reason.
Anyways, body armor can range anywhere from $200 for police surplus armor (lightly worn) to thousands of dollars for more advanced vests. Most people will pick the practical and inexpensive body armors that hover around the $500 range. Either way, it just depends upon what you want and how much you are willing to spend.
Buying An Armored Vest
So then, how do you buy an armored vest? The process is pretty simple because all you really have to do is find the vest and purchase it. Only a couple states prohibit body armor for civilians, so you shouldn’t worry much unless you live in one of these states. Obviously, you should check the laws of the state you live in. Also, convicted felons cannot own body armor under federal and most state laws.
First, you have to locate a dealer that sells body armor. Most people will end up using an online body armor provider for this because physical dealer locations that will sell to civilians are somewhat uncommon. You can certainly go to a physical dealer if you can find one. Luckily, there are a good number of civilian armored vest dealers on the Internet – most of which are great companies to deal with.
Next, you’ll need to find the type of vest that you want. I won’t go into total detail, but there are a few different levels of body armor that increase in bulk and protection as you rise in level. Level II body armor will be fine for just about any civilian. You’ll need to order the vest from the dealer and give them your body’s measurements. Obviously, you need a vest that fits properly or it could leave you exposed or completely uncomfortable.
Lastly, you’ll receive your vest in the mail after a week or two, depending upon how fast the dealer ships it to you. The process is fairly simple, so you shouldn’t fret much over the buying process. It doesn’t take long at all to think about purchasing a vest, then to purchase the vest, and finally to have the vest in your hands.
Uses for Armored Vests
So then, what uses could a civilian have for body armor? Well, I’m going to give you a short list for a few ideas.
* People who have experienced crime in the past at their home or business can don an armored vest for protection. Coupled with a self-defense firearm, this person shouldn’t be a victim anytime soon
* Anyone who works late at night or has to travel through any crime-ridden areas throughout the day and night. Armored vests are easy to conceal, so a potential thief won’t even know you’re wearing the body armor.
* A person who goes shooting or hunting a lot. Obviously, it never hurts to have some added protection in case you accidentally fall victim to a stray bullet or another hunter mistaking you for a deer.
* Security guards will love armored vests. They will have added protection, even if their job is fairly boring on most days and nights. Undoubtedly, it’s better to be protected than to not be protected.
The previous list is in no way complete because there are hundreds of other uses for armored vests. In fact, any civilian who could use body armor as a safety measure at different times should buy one. You must be wearing the vest for it to be of any use though, so don’t leave it at home if you feel like you could use its protection. Fortunately, body armor is relatively cheap and can end up saving a person’s life multiple times. You need to replace the plating inside the vest each time it gets hit with a bullet, but you shouldn’t be worried about getting shot regularly while wearing the vest. Check out some armored vests in your spare time – you could end up buying one.
