Why do people own plate carriers?

My body armor is the concealable type. I still do some security contract work thus thus the body armor. The ceramic plate stuff I have is old it should still work fine but I don't use it anymore.

I'm of the opinion that everyone should have some body armor for the same reason everyone should have a fire extinguisher and a shotgun in their home. You never know when you might need it.
 
2. However, how do you reconcile owning a defensive handgun in the home - which presumably you want and think you may one day need against an armed assailant or group of assailants (presumably armed with guns), - with the same attitude of "I won't need a ballistic vest."

I'm genuinely interested in what seems to be a logical fallacy and internal contraction/inconsistency.
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After examining numerous cases studies and news accounts of shootings and gunfights, it is my belief that defensive weapons do a very poor job of stopping incoming rounds. The problem with this is not that they are not capable, but that they do not protect enough of the person with the gun who is trying to use it defensively. So while the defender may be able to shoot at his attacker, his gun does nothing to actually thwart what is being shot at him.

The defender's gun stops incoming rounds only rarely, usually not more than once, and when it does, it is often put out of service as a result.
 
I don't care if anyone else here owns anything, it's a free, (possibly), country, and diversity is what drives the marketplace. I wouldn't use a double barreled sawed off shotgun for home defense, but many people do. I would like to make one final point, JUST for grins and giggles - 1$ a day can buy you an armor setup (not saying you should, not saying you could, not caring if you would), but just for the halibut, it actually does work out for this setup.
http://www.ar500armor.com/urban-go-plate-carrier-w-armor-and-pouches-coyote.html#.U8GBXflr6nA

That's $175, and a dollar a day for half a year equals $182.5. Might have to scrape up a few more pennies for shipping. ;)

Once again, everyone here is certainly free to purchase or not purchase what is legal in your home location, and I won't denigrate you for what you use or don't use. All I ask is you respect the choices of others in that regard...unless they choose to own a Glock, that's a sin of all sins. :rolleyes::D:D:cool:
 
To answer leadcounsel's question, I'm not against body armor, it is simply not a priority of mine. Many of your points are good ones, but I feel very safe and confident in my ability to defend myself and family without body armor. As my priorities go, I'd rather spend 200 bucks on ammo to practice with than body armor that may or may not protect my life in the end.

I'm also of the hold-in-place mindset, and my thought process has always made it seem very unlikely that someone will break down our door, acquire aim, and shoot before I am able to disable them with gun already in place and having a visual headstart. Perhaps I'm naive, but that is my logic.

As I said, I'm not against it, but I've come to my conclusion after countless times of considering getting body armor for my wife and myself. We both have our guns and our dog gives us fair warning about anyone.
 
2. However, how do you reconcile owning a defensive handgun in the home - which presumably you want and think you may one day need against an armed assailant or group of assailants (presumably armed with guns), - with the same attitude of "I won't need a ballistic vest."
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Easy. My handgun isn't a defensive handgun. I don't expect to ever use it as such. Which isn't to say I'm naive enough to not have given it serious thought, just that the chances of using it in that manner is pretty damn slim.

Also given a choice between a handgun to shoot back with, or a Plate Carrier to get shot in, I'll take the handgun to shoot back. I have yet to see anyone say "Run! He put on a bullet proof vest!", however anecdotal evidence abounds for bad guys being scared off by the presence of a gun.

It's an awful lot like the gun-control folks who try and tell you having a gun in the home makes you a zillion times more likely to get shot. What they don't tell you is that that chance is still negligible, like having a lottery ticket in your pocket makes you a zillion times more likely to win the lottery than a guy who doesn't have a ticket.

To sum up, my risk is too low for my reward to be likely.
 
We can play the "what-if" game all night and day. A home invasion is ONE of a multitude of different scenarios where you might need body armor. Anyone who owns body armor more than likely owns plenty of firearms, ammo, food, water, and supplies if the need arises. You can place body armor on that list as well. We live in a very unpredictable society, whether we're talking government collapse, natural disaster, or the thug down the street who needs a fix. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being "prepared". The question is, what is sufficient or overkill (no pun intended) to the individual? What flavor is better? AK or AR? More ammo or food? Im at a point in my life where alcohol, going to a night club, and buying expensive clothes no longer appeal to me. So "investments" have taken on a different meaning at this stage in my life. Balance in all aspects of life, to include safety is more of a concern to me. If you own a high caliber battle rifle you should own body armor........and equally as important know how to administer First-aid. Im also of the mindset that I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
 
i may buy one some day if i get bored. why not? under 500$ and could go in my pile of prepper junk/9food,water,tools,ammo). i am pretty positive i will never use any of it, but i still like to have it for some reason, same with my guns.....

i live pretty close to a major crime ridden city, and don't think it's totally impossible for riots and lawlessness to break out. even in that scenario, plate armor probably isn't necessary, but noone ever knows for sure. whats another few hundred bucks on something i don't NEED, i don't NEED half of what i own. that's what's great about america!!!

it's not on the top of the list, but i wouldn't turn one down either
 
As for the spare phone, you can take any usable old cellphone, plug it in to a charger, and always dial 911 in an emergency. I have two old cell phones in my home that are continually charging, placed in strategic locations to allow me to call 911 from my bedroom and office if there is an emergency and I don't have my actual phone nearby. So you could put an old phone in a plate carrier pocket and keep the phone on a cord charger. Just yank the charger off as you put the plate carrier on... takes only a few seconds to don the carrier.

Mob violence coming to a city near you.

Since this thread 1 year ago, there have been several US cities suffering from significant rioting, mass looting and violence, arson, and civil unrest.

If this erupted in your city, neighborhood, or on your street, you either flee or stay and protect your neighborhood and home. If you stay, you might want body armor for you and your family.

Furguson Missouri is one example. If you research it, you will see pictures of chains of citizens with weapons guarding their homes and businesses. Darn straight you'd want a plate carrier and kevlar helmet to accessories your EBR. Furguson saw massive mob violence that went on for many months. Lots of murders, assaults, rapes, looting, arson of unprotected property, etc.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/photos/ant...n-grand-jury-decision-27148186/image-27160177

Baltimore MD, same thing. Mob violence, looting, murders, assaults, arson of unprotected property, etc.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/28/us/baltimore-riots-authorities/index.html

Nationwide riots, lawlessness, and violence resulting from the Trayvon Martin decision.
http://mrconservative.com/2013/07/21520-20-disturbing-photos-from-violent-pro-trayvon-martin-riots/

Other riots, violence, and looting in the last few years. http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2014/08/11/5-race-riots-in-obamas-post-racial-america/
 
Same reason you would have a gun.......because someone is trying to shoot at you or stab you.....


Does this conclusion not seem logical? If you can argue yourself out of body armor, you pretty much argued yourself out of gun ownership for about half of possible defensive scenarios.
 
I bet the folks here who don't see the point, or are against BA, would be running out to get their's , if the Feds tried to ban the sale of it..........
 
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I keep a set of body armor in a "Go Bag" in my truck with an SBR, and a set at home with a "Extended" Go Bag. Essentially where ever I am its not too far away. Keep in mind that's on top of my EDC Gear. I haven't been to a training class with full vest and gear "yet", but its in my future plans. However, I am former military and LE so I have had formal training to use all of what I own as individual components. I've been around "it" all of my adult life so its hard to imagine NOT having it if the need arises, firearms and body armor go hand in hand in my mind.
 
Plate carrier vests without plates do sell at the various shows most likely because the cost is attractive. With plates installed the cost and weight would be a turn off. Sellers/buyers usually know little of the product. Usually an impulse sale IMO.
 
Why do people who never let their tires touch anything but pavement buy off-road accessories for their vehicles?

Why do I have a high-end compass when GPS works better and I don't like hiking anyway?

Why do people take carbine self-defense classes when all they ever carry or use for self-defense are handguns?

Why do people who don't plan to hunt Africa buy elephant guns?

Why do people who never really intend to carry go to the trouble to get a handgun license?
 
I am not going to argue the pros & cons of body armor, in a resurrected zombie thread. But I will address a couple of points.

Why do people own plate carriers? (without plates)

Aside from the tackycool wannabes, mall ninjas, and the small group that actually has a need and use for body armor, there is another group.

That group is people who use surplus military gear for outdoor recreational purposes. For example, a guy who gets an ex-military vest with "300 pockets" and a built in holster, and uses it as his fishing vest, because it holds a bunch of stuff.

The only "game" being played is fishing & camping, and a surplus LBE or ammo vest, or "plate carrier" might be just the ticket for packing his gear in, and may cost only a fraction of something comparable (if there even is anything) from the entirely civilian side of the street.

And I think there is a flaw in the analogy of fire extinguisher & smoke detector. The extinguisher could be likened to a firearm, both are active systems, which only function when you use them, and only as well as you use them.

Smoke dectectors are passive, like body armor, but unlike body armor, they are not a defense, they are only a warning. An indicator, doing nothing except alarming when tripped. The rest is all up to you.

Not a good comparison, I think.
 
What about a kevlar helmet and night vision googles? Should I get those too, so when I answer the door at night, I'll be prepared?
 
For some of us it's like having a gun whether you CC or just for HD. It's having peace of mind. I have a level IIIA(soft armor and level III plates) I keep them by my bed for me and my wife in case someone breaks in.

A couple months back I heard a loud noise so after hunkering down in our bedroom for 20 minutes I decided I should probably sweep the house so we could go back to sleep. it ended up just being my kids toy that fell on the hardwood but I was glad that I had some ballistic protection with me.
 
Most cost effective home defense set-up?
A hi-point pistol and whatever body armor you can possibly afford.
Even if I don't have time to don it, I might have time to place it in front of my body.

Plenty of people have bled out while looking at an assailants lifeless body. A violent altercation is almost always about not getting hit more than landing hits on an assailant.

It always amazes me when I hear about restricting body armor. Makes far less sense to me than any weapons restrictions.

If I was buying firearms primarily for defense I would almost certainly buy some sort of armor. Turns out I like hunting, going to the range, tinkering, and possibly hoarding ammo, but I'm not really all that concerned about a home invasion, car jacking, or work place violence.
 
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