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Can you describe a typical scenario where a civilian might want to use body armor? I understand that shooting high powered rifles is a lot of fun, so recreatio

Can you describe a typical scenario where a civilian might want to use body armor? I understand that shooting high powered rifles is a lot of fun, so recreation makes sense with respect to weaponry, but I'm legitimately confused about why a civilian would ever want to own body armor. I can't imagine it's terribly comfortable to wear, and it doesn't seem very fun to me.

thereddaikon 6y ago
Do you live in a cave? This past year has given a lot of people reason to want body armor. Its also a free country, or at least is supposed to be. If someone wants to wear armor why not?
shoemakersteve 6y ago
Really? You can't imagine any? Regardless of how unlikely it might be, there's a very real risk that shit's gonna go down in the next week and who knows what might happen. Even if nothing does happen, there's been an increasing amount of unrest in the past few years, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for the worst. You probably won't ever need to use the spare tire in your trunk, but it's reassuring to know that it's there if ever you need it.
- JeremyNT 6y ago
  I'd be interested in better understanding the threat model here - the scenario where it's actually useful. Call it a failure of imagination, but to me it seems exceedingly unwise for a law abiding civilian to be entering a situation where body armor would be helpful (and I say this as a firearm owner).
  - scanny 6y ago
    I would think that any industry where shrapnel could be present: Civilian weapons R&D, mining where explosives are being used, private security work, civilian firearm instruction, protection for targetted individuals e.g. Malcom X / MLK, Journalists in conflict zones (you saw them warn in DC during the protests as well) Albiet the U.S. has and always will be a special case due to high firearm ownership and rather open ownership of those sorts of things.

thereddaikon 6y ago

Do you live in a cave? This past year has given a lot of people reason to want body armor. Its also a free country, or at least is supposed to be. If someone wants to wear armor why not?

shoemakersteve 6y ago

Really? You can't imagine any? Regardless of how unlikely it might be, there's a very real risk that shit's gonna go down in the next week and who knows what might happen. Even if nothing does happen, there's been an increasing amount of unrest in the past few years, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for the worst. You probably won't ever need to use the spare tire in your trunk, but it's reassuring to know that it's there if ever you need it.

JeremyNT 6y ago
I'd be interested in better understanding the threat model here - the scenario where it's actually useful. Call it a failure of imagination, but to me it seems exceedingly unwise for a law abiding civilian to be entering a situation where body armor would be helpful (and I say this as a firearm owner).
- scanny 6y ago
  I would think that any industry where shrapnel could be present: Civilian weapons R&D, mining where explosives are being used, private security work, civilian firearm instruction, protection for targetted individuals e.g. Malcom X / MLK, Journalists in conflict zones (you saw them warn in DC during the protests as well) Albiet the U.S. has and always will be a special case due to high firearm ownership and rather open ownership of those sorts of things.