Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Since the invention of gunpowder and its subsequent use as a propel-
lant to push a lead ball down a steel pipe at sufficient velocity to cause
injury and death, humans have sought ways to protect themselves against
such projectiles. In the late 1800s silk was used to create thickly padded
vests that were able to defeat the slow-moving bullets of that era. Legend
has it that the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was wearing such a vest at the
time he was assassinated, which was the proximal cause of World War I. It
was not until the 1960s that protective vests made from Kevlar began to
see use in the law enforcement community.
The threats that we are concerned with are small arms and explosives.
Proper selection and use of protective equipment can substantially increase
the chances of surviving an armed attack of this nature. Different types of
armor are designed to protect the user against a particular level of threat.
For example, soft body armor (SBA), the flexible armor worn by police
officers, is capable of protecting the wearer against bullets fired from most
commonly encountered handguns. The armor will not provide any pro-
tection against rounds fired from a high-powered rifle. While it may seem
that soft armor is inadequate for use by police, analyses of shooting inci-
dents involving U.S. law enforcement officers indicate that officers are
most likely to be shot at by criminals using handguns. A small number of
cops are killed by rifle fire, to be sure. But the type of armor required to
stop rifle bullets is much heavier and rigid. Armor of this type could not
be worn for any length of time because of its weight and rigidity. A cost-
benefit analysis is therefore appropriate. Hard armor cannot be worn for
long periods, and it is very unlikely that a street cop will come under rifle
fire. Furthermore, since it is possible to provide substantial levels of pro-
tection against the likely threat, which is assailants using handguns, soft
armor is an appropriate choice. Police tactical units that have a greater
likelihood of responding to a crime involving a criminal using, for exam-
ple, an assault rifle generally opt to use hard-armor plates in conjunction
with the soft body armor. Hard armor works well as an adjunct on a tac-
tical vest that will likely be worn for short periods of time. It is not suit-
able for covert use and cannot be worn under clothing. It would not, for
example, be appropriate for an executive needing a protective vest that
could be worn under a suit. A lightweight vest designed to provide a lower
level of protection but affording greater comfort and flexibility would be
the appropriate choice under those circumstances.
The first stage in choosing the appropriate SBA for a high-profile
business executive or other individual at risk is to identify the most likely
