How easy is it to obtain body armor?

[chieftain]

I don't believe that anyone needs an assault weapon and I am really troubled by those folks who have both.

[slackmaster]

1. You Google it, punch in your name, address, and a credit card number,

and then the brown truck delivers it to your doorstep.

[thatgemguy]

2. Check out eBay... n/t

[chieftain]

3. I was afraid it would be that easy.

The combination of assault weapons and body armor suggests to me that someone could be considering mayhem. A home invasion would not allow much time for a homeowner to don the gear and I have yet to hear of deer returning hunters fire. Maybe a ban on the purchase of body armor should be on the table too.

[slackmaster]

6. Convicted felons are prohibited by federal law from purchasing, owning, or possessing body armor

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/931

And modern firearms.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/922

[Historic NY]

9. Guns too but they seem to get them...

its time for the FEds to aggressively go after sales from Craigslist - to e-bay to the various on-line sources and beyond.

If they can enforce sales taxing scheme they can do this.

[slackmaster]

10. To regulate occasional non-commercial intrastate private sales of used firearms...

...some kind of justification consistent with the powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution would be needed.

It's already stretched its power to regulate interstate commerce to beyond ridiculous, e.g. regulating people growing wheat for local consumption, or growing cannabis on their own property for personal use.

Every proposal to "close the gun show loophole" (i.e. regulate private transfers of used weapons) that I've ever seen had thresholds, such as a minimum number of vendors present and a certain number of firearms being offered for sale. The obvious unintended consequence of which would of course be a proliferation of "not-quite-a-gun-show" events, and an increase in the use of media such as newspaper classified ads.

BTW, Craigslist rules prohibit firearm ads, and so does eBay. But I understand your point.

[melm00se]

4. here

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Body_Armor_Complete_Products_LIST.shtml

t's and c's

http://www.bulletproofme.com/Legal_Terms_of_Sale.shtml

not overly difficult

[Old Codger]

5. Check first

Before you buy any you need to be aware that there are different levels of protection.

All body armor products are categorized into one of six levels.

The levels begin with Level I which offers the least amount of protection and go up to Level IV which offers the most amount of protection. This level system is the most important factor in making a purchase. You don’t need a Level IV - which will stop rifle rounds - if the purpose of the vest is to give you protection from sharp edged weapons while walking a tier a Garden State Prison. However, if you are on a tactical entry team used for high risk assaults or handling prison riots, you will need armored protection that will stop more than just knives.
An old but still very valuable street cop rule-of-thumb is to have a level of ballistic performance that stops, at a minimum, the round you carry in your service weapon. This rule is as relevant and true today as it was when body armor was first available.

Be advised, though, there are many variables.

The ballistic threat of a round depends on more than just the round. Variables include its composition, shape, caliber, mass, angle of impact, and impact velocity. Because of the wide variety of rounds and cartridges available in a given caliber and because of the existence of hand loaded ammunition, body armor that will defeat a standard test round may not defeat other loadings in the same caliber.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice. It is from the NIJ where we get the levels of body armor. It is called the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Ballistic Resistance of Police Body Armor.

http://njlawman.com/Feature%20Pieces/Body%20Armor.htm

[Lurks Often]

7. Varies by state law

I will also point out that initial reporting may be wrong, that last I saw, the Colorado murderer was NOT wearing body armor, but a military LBE (load bearing equipment) vest which will NOT stop a bullet. It is merely something to attach pouches to, much like a photographer's vest or fisherman's vest has lots of pockets.

I also don't believe the Newtown murderer was wearing body armor either.


A quick search suggests starting prices in the $950-$1050 range for Level IIA body armor, which is what most police officers wear on duty UNDER the uniform shirt. It is not the heavier armor used by SWAT

[valerief]

8. I think it's really difficult for soldiers to get it. nt

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. Not these days

There was some supply problems early on that in turn led to non-standard stuff being shipped from the states. That seems to be under control now

[rrneck]

11. Skip to the two minute mark.

Body armor will prevent the penetration of the bullet, but not the shock of the impact. If you get hit wearing body armor, the bullet will still likely knock you down and render you more or less like you've been punched by Mike Tyson.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Sir Issac must be paid

[rrneck]

14. True that. nt