Why are bullet proof vests illegal?

Naked Lepper

Simple question really, i just do not understand why something which can potentially save ones life is illegal and classed under the (hold on) FIREARMS offence!!??

connundrum

Because once you allow the bullet proof vests then it'll encourage more gun use.. see condoms and sex

Naked Lepper

ah yeah, sure the last thing ireland needs is people bringing in guns and shooting eachother eh!

Black Swan

Who is to know? See latest fashion statement. :cool:

bugler

Because it's almost exclusively criminals who have a need for them. The Gardai don't want to be facing armed criminals who also have body armour.

It may leave a few people feeling aggrieved if A) They are not criminals and Have a genuine reason to fear someone is trying to shoot them, but how many people like that are there?

Hagar

It makes it too hard for the Gardaí to kill you if you're wearing a bullet proof vest. Simple.

godtabh

bugler wrote:

Because it's almost exclusively criminals who have a need for them. The Gardai don't want to be facing armed criminals who also have body armour.

So making them illegally will stop these criminals from using them? Man they should make it an offence for criminals to carry guns

Naked Lepper

should the police start to carry guns and then perhaps make bullet proof vests illegal??

how is 50 cent going to do is concert now

Degsy

They arent illegal.they are,however extremly expensive and need carefull care and handling or thier effectiveness is diminished.

Ri_Nollaig

connundrum wrote:

Because once you allow the bullet proof vests then it'll encourage more gun use.. see condoms and sex

that is one of the best comments ive seen in along time

shane86

Probably to combat drink fuelled betting/entertainment.

Imagine the scene- 12 cans down, a BP vest, two gob****es and a shotgun

"Ah come on, sure it`ll be a laugh!" :eek: :eek:

\m/_(>_<)_\m/

Naked Lepper wrote:

Simple question really, i just do not understand why something which can potentially save ones life is illegal and classed under the (hold on) FIREARMS offence!!??

i do believe this is a legal issue, therefore would it not be better placed in the legal discussion forum...

Lord Derpington

Degsy wrote:

they are,however extremly expensive

They sure are LINK

ScumLord

Because their for panseys, tuffen up and take it like a man.

Max_Damage

Hagar wrote:

It makes it too hard for the Gardaí to kill you if you're wearing a bullet proof vest. Simple.

Shoot them in the head then, or arm the gardaí with this

Manic Moran

Like pretty much all the firearms-related laws, I don't see why making something illegal is really going to have a practical effect on anyone you want it to affect.

"Well, I'm just going to rob this bank here, and I'd like to wear body armour just in case the coppers want to shoot me, but I won't because it's illegal"

Umm...

NTM

thebman

kearnsr wrote:

So making them illegally will stop these criminals from using them? Man they should make it an offence for criminals to carry guns

lol, the point being it makes it harder to find them or get them so criminals have to try harder to get them.

Rb

greenfly wrote:

They sure are LINK

Lol, "anti-terrorist" vests, you just know a whole load of Americans bought into that.

Dave!

brim4brim wrote:

lol, the point being it makes it harder to find them or get them so criminals have to try harder to get them.

Indeed. I don't know how everyone is missing this point.

Victor

Naked Lepper wrote:

Simple question really, i just do not understand why something which can potentially save ones life is illegal and classed under the (hold on) FIREARMS offence!!??

I don't think its illegal in Ireland, but perhaps you can provide a link.

In parts of the USA, it is illegal for ex-convicts to posess body armour.

Rb

Victor wrote:

I don't think its illegal in Ireland, but perhaps you can provide a link.

In parts of the USA, it is illegal for ex-convicts to posess body armour.

Ah, the good old USA, almost everyone who wants one can legally own a weapon, those who aren't eligible for one can get their hands on one easy enough...but not everyone who wants protection from said weapons can have it. Crazy.

Alkers

As above, presumed it was legal, can't it be purchased in the army surplus stores? Nigs testing it!

Spitfire666

when a threat is made on sum1's life, be it a solicitor,drug dealer or an ordinary guy, they get advised about purchasing vest so i dont think they are illegal

Spitfire666

Spitfire666 wrote:

when a threat is made on sum1's life, be it a solicitor,drug dealer or an ordinary guy, they get advised about purchasing vest so i dont think they are illegal

But would that not fall under some special case.. the guards giving permission or something.

Sure, there aint nothing wrong with a few pots and pans hung around the body.

Degsy

Deleted User wrote:

But would that not fall under some special case.. the guards giving permission or something.

Sure, there aint nothing wrong with a few pots and pans hung around the body.

A couple of telephone books strapped around the body is as good as any ballistic fibre.It may impede your movement somewhat but wont be as heavy as a ceramic ballistic insert.Please dont take my word for it...

bugler

So making them illegally will stop these criminals from using them? Man they should make it an offence for criminals to carry guns

kearns and ManicMoran:

What are you trying to say? That nothing should be illegal because criminals would do it anyway? Why are there laws covering sex offences? I mean if paedophiles and rapists are going to do it anyway, well whats the point? It doesn't stop them!

Ignoring the issue of whether bullet-proof vests are illegal or not (let's assume they are). Making them illegal makes them somewhat harder to obtain. But let's say they get one. If caught, this is an offence, and could be used to jail said criminal. It's another stick to beat them with.

By the way, I think they should only be available under license like many firearms. It's not in the interests of society to be allowing criminals prolong their lives by using them. If someone has a legitimate reason for them then they should be available to them.

Degsy

They arent illegal people...

Guy:Incognito

They ar egettign a bit pointless for the crims now anyway. People who are wanted dead are being properly executed, just like the other night. Drive bys just dont get the job done. It's only amateurs and warnign shots that use drive bys.

SteveS

bugler wrote:

kearns and ManicMoran:

What are you trying to say? That nothing should be illegal because criminals would do it anyway? Why are there laws covering sex offences? I mean if paedophiles and rapists are going to do it anyway, well whats the point? It doesn't stop them!

This is not a fair comparison. Raping someone or molesting a child is inherently wrong. Wearing a bullet proof vest is not.

I think what MM was trying to say is that criminals are not going to be deterred from wearing a vest just because it is illegal, whereas some one that is law-abiding will not get one.

Degsy

SteveS wrote:

This is not a fair comparison. Raping someone or molesting a child is inherently wrong. Wearing a bullet proof vest is not.

I think what MM was trying to say is that criminals are not going to be deterred from wearing a vest just because it is illegal, whereas some one that is law-abiding will not get one.

They arent illegal...is there an echo in here??

SteveS

Degsy wrote:

They arent illegal...is there an echo in here??

I know. I was speaking hypothetically, though they are illegal here under certain circumstances.

Seth Brundle

I saw on Nationwide recently that they are made up in Donegal. The company there will be supply organisations such as the PSNI (and will soon IIRC supply the gardai).