April 21, 2004

• Stale Kevlar

  The U.S. Department of Defense announced a couple of weeks ago that
  several criminal investgative agencies of various branches of the
  military served search warrants in Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, New York,
  North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin in connection with an investigation
  into sales on internet auction sites of ballistic vests. 
  Apparently someone has been stealing “bulletproof” (notice that the
  military makes no such claim for their effectiveness) vests and selling
  them.

  I had always understood that stealing government property was a crime,
  but until now had not known that possession and sale of these military
  ballistic vests is illegal.  The news release says:

  OTVs [outer tactical vests] and SAPIs
  [small arms protective inserts--ceramic plates that fit in pockets of
  the vests] made exclusively for the U.S. government are not for
  sale to the general public.  Once the items have lost their shelf
  life
  or have been returned by military personnel, they are demilitarized by
  total destruction through shredding and/or shearing, to prevent the
  item from being restored to usable condition. They are stolen
  government property if possessed or sold outside the military or law
  enforcement agencies.

  It seems wasteful to me.  And just how long is the “shelf life” of
  Kevlar or ballistic ceramic?  I am not so obtuse or ignorant not
  to understand the rationale.  The powers that be don’t want a lot
  of personal armor out there.  I recall a bank robbery incident in
  L.A. a few years ago, when the cops encountered a gang of robbers so
  well armed and armored that they were compelled to quickly requisition
  some better equipment for themselves from a local gun shop.  But
  it’s a flimsy rationale, considering that there is civilian body armor
  that is more effective than what the troops are issued.  Families
  of servicemen are purchasing these things and sending them to
  Iraq.  Gives a new meaning to “care package”, eh?

  It
  still seems wasteful.  They could issue these things to people
  such as the man Greyfox sold some armament to at his stand.  This
  guy’s job is painting lane markings on city streets in Anchorage. 
  The work is done late at night when few besides rapists, robbers and
  hookers are out on the street.  The crews occasionally get shot at
  from passing cars.  Whether they’re just targets of opportunity or
  their fluorescent cones blocking part of the street annoy the cruising
  scofflaws, all the same they are targets and could use some body
  armor.  Or, how about giving the expired (still wondering about
  the freshness dates on the things) vests to inner city school kids to
  protect them from drive-by’s and stray bullets from gang
  scuffles?  They could issue them firearms to keep the bad guys
  from stealing their vests, right?

  DoD News: Ballistic Vest Search Warrants Served
  

  • 1:53 pm
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