Vests as part of home defense plan...
- Thread starter Socrates
- Start date
But coach always told me that a strong offense is the best defense...
Personally haven't spend the cash for a vest. The only time I feel a civilian would need a vest is during a Katrina type situation, where normal people are thrust into practical war zones. I don't think I'd have time to don a vest during a potential home invasion. And the risk of being in a SHTF scenario during daily life is relatively low, so I don't see the point of wearing the vest as part of every day dress.
For the others:
With the mace, I'm too worried about being attacked on a windy day and ending up with a face full of it myself rather than putting it on the BG.
If I have time to properly fit a pair of ear plugs before an engagement, then I probably had time to retreat with me and mine. When Mr. BG comes up wanting my wallet or girlfriend's womanly features, I doubt he'll give me time to protect our hearing.
I don't deal with tasers either, since the data I've read based on real world deployment suggests a lack of consistency.
Mama invested in my key item for self/home defense: she put a good head on my shoulders.
TexasSeaRay
New member
If I need all that for home defense, I'm packing up and finding a new home.
Jeff
Perldog007
New member
I would be afraid of having to explain that in the aftermath of a defense event. If I had time to put on a vest, and the foresight to have one, why didn't I just leave?
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Hi, Dr. S, an interesting question. I have several vests, but I'm a career LEO also. I dont keep a vest in the house, but usually have one in my vehicles, especially mypersonal pick-up, along with a raid jacket or marked t shirt to id myself. I try to always ready for bad happenings, or if needed to assist another LEO. I travel I-65 in Alabama a lot, and always watch out for Troopers, etc that have vehicles stopped along the interstate.
For home protection, or even street protection, Mas Ayoob once wrote an article about a vest that fits into a "fanny-pacK" type application, worn around the waist and crammed into the front pocket. The vest can be pulled out and a strap fits over your head to secure it...seems it had a "POLICE" emblem on it.
Might be a little bulky, I've never seen one. BUT...certainly worth a look, if you think you might need it.
Mas hangs out here occasionaly, maybe he'll weigh in!
I'm always interested in the posters here and other forums where the poster says he carries a main sd gun, a back-up, two knives, a cell phone, a whistle and mace, a stun-gun and four extra magazines...then "NO", I never consider body-armor. Oh, well.
I always enjoy your posts, BTW. I'd love to meet you and some of those you've mentioned, such as Lee Jurras, et al.
For home protection, or even street protection, Mas Ayoob once wrote an article about a vest that fits into a "fanny-pacK" type application, worn around the waist and crammed into the front pocket. The vest can be pulled out and a strap fits over your head to secure it...seems it had a "POLICE" emblem on it.
Might be a little bulky, I've never seen one. BUT...certainly worth a look, if you think you might need it.
Mas hangs out here occasionaly, maybe he'll weigh in!
I'm always interested in the posters here and other forums where the poster says he carries a main sd gun, a back-up, two knives, a cell phone, a whistle and mace, a stun-gun and four extra magazines...then "NO", I never consider body-armor. Oh, well.
I always enjoy your posts, BTW. I'd love to meet you and some of those you've mentioned, such as Lee Jurras, et al.
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I'm not going outside or to bed with the idea that I'm going to a dangerous place. If I thought there would be danger, I wouldn't go. My firearms are a "just in case" deal. Hence, I'd only need a vest if the survivalist's dreams come true. If one fell in my lap, I'd keep it.
Ear protection; basically the same deal - If I thought I'd need them, I wouldn't go.
OC spray; Sometimes.
Ear protection; basically the same deal - If I thought I'd need them, I wouldn't go.
OC spray; Sometimes.
Double Naught Spy
New member
Great, another person more worried about a possible aftermath and dealing with the cops than actually worried about the life or death situation of protecting themselves and their families. I wasn't aware of there being any laws anywhere in CONUS that said if you had time to prepare that you should just leave. I cannot fathom how having an item that is so purely defensive (they only stop incoming rounds) would be so much concern, but having a gun that would or could project force on another isn't. After all, if you have time to grab a gun and shoot a home invader, don't you have time to leave?
Where you live, are you allowed to make use of available cover, or do you not do that as well because if you have that sort of time, you have time to leave? Do you get to grab a flashlight, or is that considered too much preparation as well?
I am guessing that because of the prepared/leave issue, you don't check bumps in the night, or if you do, you do it without anything other than just a firearm. Would that be correct?
Contrary to popular myth, the first rule of a gun fight is not to have a gun, but to survive the fight. Survival and protection of life should be all that truly matters. Worry more about that than the issue of answering questions in the aftermath. If you fail the first part, you may not be alive to answer questions in the aftermath.
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We have two vests. They have been used primarily for checking bumps in the night.
Always amazed that even if you get the right answers, you may end up with a different thought then when you went in.
Next to my bed is the vest, double plates, supposed to be good against 357, electronic boosted hearing protection, and, prior to this post, inadequate light. I've never been a light on the gun type, so now, instead of a kel-lite, I've got a 10 million candle search light by the bed, as well. This gives me blinding light, without having it on my gun.
Now, since I have to drive into part of East Oakland tonight, I'm giving serious thought to the vest. I originally asked for it for the high school I'd been working in.
One day, after lunch, I came back to what appeared to be two students, one who was supposed to be in my class, having a gropping session with what appeared to be another gang affiliated student. I WAS WRONG. Since the girl failed to enter class, or say anything, I had been instructed by the principal to lock the door, and, since they do tardy sweeps, the students not in class get trash detention. Turned out the guy was not a student, had come in from off campus, and that explained why he was totally ignoring my instructions. I also, in retrospect, suspect he was drunk, or high, judging by his actions.
A bit later I talked to the girl, and asked her why she was tardy, and hadn't followed my instructions. Turns out she can barely speak English, and was too scared to say anything at the time. I'm usually pretty good at picking stuff up, but, when you have 35 high school students in a room, and you are at the door, turn away, or go outside for a second, and things disappear, or bad things can happen.
I had security come up, escort her down to the principals office, and, try and see if we could identify the guy, if he was a student. She came back to class, and, couldn't find the guys picture. It then dawned on my it was an outsider, maybe from another high school, or drop out.
I said all that, because if I had confronted him, I might very well have been in a situation that I would not like. Also, I was faced with my duty to protect the girl, if I'd known the guy was gropping her against her will.
Another scenario is if I break up the stuff, or get into it with the guy, he might well be back, with some of his friends, with weapons. Then what do you do? The vest might turn a knife, 9mm, 380 or 22, pretty easily.
So, I guess tonight I'll see if I can dress baggy enough to hide it, and see how comfortable it is driving for an hour...
By the way, my work takes me into Richmond and Oakland, and some other not so nice areas on a regular basis. Nothing I can do about it at the present...
Next to my bed is the vest, double plates, supposed to be good against 357, electronic boosted hearing protection, and, prior to this post, inadequate light. I've never been a light on the gun type, so now, instead of a kel-lite, I've got a 10 million candle search light by the bed, as well. This gives me blinding light, without having it on my gun.
Now, since I have to drive into part of East Oakland tonight, I'm giving serious thought to the vest. I originally asked for it for the high school I'd been working in.
One day, after lunch, I came back to what appeared to be two students, one who was supposed to be in my class, having a gropping session with what appeared to be another gang affiliated student. I WAS WRONG. Since the girl failed to enter class, or say anything, I had been instructed by the principal to lock the door, and, since they do tardy sweeps, the students not in class get trash detention. Turned out the guy was not a student, had come in from off campus, and that explained why he was totally ignoring my instructions. I also, in retrospect, suspect he was drunk, or high, judging by his actions.
A bit later I talked to the girl, and asked her why she was tardy, and hadn't followed my instructions. Turns out she can barely speak English, and was too scared to say anything at the time. I'm usually pretty good at picking stuff up, but, when you have 35 high school students in a room, and you are at the door, turn away, or go outside for a second, and things disappear, or bad things can happen.
I had security come up, escort her down to the principals office, and, try and see if we could identify the guy, if he was a student. She came back to class, and, couldn't find the guys picture. It then dawned on my it was an outsider, maybe from another high school, or drop out.
I said all that, because if I had confronted him, I might very well have been in a situation that I would not like. Also, I was faced with my duty to protect the girl, if I'd known the guy was gropping her against her will.
Another scenario is if I break up the stuff, or get into it with the guy, he might well be back, with some of his friends, with weapons. Then what do you do? The vest might turn a knife, 9mm, 380 or 22, pretty easily.
So, I guess tonight I'll see if I can dress baggy enough to hide it, and see how comfortable it is driving for an hour...
By the way, my work takes me into Richmond and Oakland, and some other not so nice areas on a regular basis. Nothing I can do about it at the present...
Thunderhawk88
Moderator
Once I set the claymores around the perimeter for the night I just go to bed. No need for a vest.
Being prepared for bad situations is well just smart. I try to avoid going into bad areas whenever possible but occassionally you just have to.
My boss bought my first vest so that I was better protected when answering alarm calls to his pawnshops in the middle of the night. He bought me another when the first one expired (I kept the old one because they tend to work well past the exp date). Every now and then I wear it to work. Usually when pawnshops make the news by being robbed and the robbers are still at large.
Unfortunately I just don't have this luxury 100 percent.
My boss bought my first vest so that I was better protected when answering alarm calls to his pawnshops in the middle of the night. He bought me another when the first one expired (I kept the old one because they tend to work well past the exp date). Every now and then I wear it to work. Usually when pawnshops make the news by being robbed and the robbers are still at large.
Unfortunately I just don't have this luxury 100 percent.
Almost wore it last night. Had a vivid reminder of stuff that can happen. Watched a couple cars pulling on the freeway, and someone couldn't get in, rush hour, so they slammed on their brakes. Rather spectacular bang, with lots of metal flying when the cell phone user plowed into the stopped car...
I need something thicker for under the vest. Gets REAL scratchy with the standard carry vest, or, it could just need washing. It has two kevlar plates, on front and back, for a total of 4. Would be better if I was about 20 pounds lighter. Makes me look rather round.
I need something thicker for under the vest. Gets REAL scratchy with the standard carry vest, or, it could just need washing. It has two kevlar plates, on front and back, for a total of 4. Would be better if I was about 20 pounds lighter. Makes me look rather round.
I have a vest, but it's in no way part of my home defense plan... it's mainly for safety at the range, or the occassional trip to a bad neighborhood (I prefer to simply avoid the bad neighborhoods if at all possible). Given the layout and size of my dwelling, I just can't see grabbing a vest a feasable option for confronting intruders. Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't grab it if I had a chance 
I can't speak for you, but for me the answer is simple: the law allows me to stay and defend my home without any obligation to retreat. Besides, if I'm in my bedroom when somebody breaks in, I have no realistic avenue of escape.
I can't speak for you, but for me the answer is simple: the law allows me to stay and defend my home without any obligation to retreat. Besides, if I'm in my bedroom when somebody breaks in, I have no realistic avenue of escape.
45Marlin carbine
Moderator
interesting post and good point. I have none of the mentioned accessorys but have been tinkering with sheet metal 'shield' idea, made with a forearm strap and a hand loop. something along the lines the riot squads carry but no head protection made from 16 ga. mild steel. will turn anything but magnum handgun rounds at any distance at all and buckshot(easy on shot) with a half-moon cut-out for forearm to protrude w/handgun.
I live in a steel house, no need for body armour.
Claymores? I use "bouncing betties"
way more effective and a lot scarier, you should see their faces when they start popping up acme sells them with the little sign that pops out and reads "Boom"
I have 5 dogs, anyone comes within 100 yards they let me know. Dont get many visitors late at night where I live tho.
Claymores? I use "bouncing betties"
way more effective and a lot scarier, you should see their faces when they start popping up acme sells them with the little sign that pops out and reads "Boom" I have 5 dogs, anyone comes within 100 yards they let me know. Dont get many visitors late at night where I live tho.
In my home? seasoning spray and kevlar?
If you are in my home illegally, I am not gonna ask you what's up, I'm not going to try to season you (pepper spray)... I'm not gonna give you a chance to shoot first...
The SECOND I identify you as a threat, as in not welcome!, I'm gonna play the trombone for you... (pump and fire Remington 870 Marine Magnum) it is my right, and my duty to my family (and myself!)... and I'm gonna shoot until I have sufficiently stopped the threat!
If you are in my home illegally, I am not gonna ask you what's up, I'm not going to try to season you (pepper spray)... I'm not gonna give you a chance to shoot first...
The SECOND I identify you as a threat, as in not welcome!, I'm gonna play the trombone for you... (pump and fire Remington 870 Marine Magnum) it is my right, and my duty to my family (and myself!)... and I'm gonna shoot until I have sufficiently stopped the threat!