Plenty of sources tell us that emergency services in metropolitan areas in Sweden wear protective vests. There are cost issues, and there are image issues, i.e.

Plenty of sources tell us that emergency services in metropolitan areas in Sweden wear protective vests. There are cost issues, and there are image issues, i.e. if the firemen are protected against you stabbing them, it's "militarization" and you'll see them as your enemy. E.g. Svenska Dagbladet (no fringe publication, a major newspaper): https://www.svd.se/ambulanspersonal-far-skyddsvastar https://www.svd.se/ambulanspersonal-far-skyddsvastar Of course, this is not unique. Plenty of American cities have the same: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/madison-firefighters-add-extra-layer-of-protection-with-bulletproof-vests/article_5f0fc4ce-0f08-51ed-8a25-79f99092d08b.html http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/madi...