Bulletproof vests or bulletproof jackets simply refer to the protective clothing that is designed to be bullet-resistant.
Contrary to their popular name, these vests are actually not bulletproof as the steel in armored vehicles are.
They are only made from many layers of woven and laminated fabric materials that resist the puncturing actions of fired bullets.
The purpose of the vest is only to minimize the injuries caused by firearm-fired projectiles as well as the shrapnel fragments of explosions.
Many designs of this vest have saved the lives of so many people, particularly those who are working in the military and law-enforcing services.
Since many of those who were saved attested to the vest's ability to shield fragments of fired handguns and shotguns, these protective articles were tagged to be bulletproof.
To prevent bullet penetration, bulletproof jackets need to absorb the energy of the bullet.
To do that, they make use of layers of strong fibers to catch the bullet and dissipate its energy through the material.
This action may cause the bullet to be deformed; handgun bullets tend to mushroom into a dished plate against a well designed textile bulletproof vest.
This way, the fabric brings the projectile to stop.
Even in a well designed vest, some of the layers are expected to be penetrated by fired projectiles but its engineers made sure that the bullet will not pass through the entire matrix of its material.
The protective features of bulletproof vests and jackets depend on their specifications, which involve penetration resistance requirements and impact energy limits.
While it is specifically designed to protect against fired bullets, it may not be an effective shield against sharp implements such as knives and arrows as well as the shrapnel fragments from explosives.
The impact made by these objects is concentrated in a relatively small area, to which the shielding action of bulletproof vests will not be effective.
However, the vest can be augmented by incorporating metal, ceramic or polyethylene plates through its layered materials.
This creates an upgraded version to conventional vests, which happens to the type of vest used by law enforcement and military officers and bomb disposal units.
The good news is that many well-designed bulletproof vests are now issued to protect ordinary citizens.
Even if you are not the President or one of the dignitaries in your country, you can legally own a bulletproof vest.
With that, you will need to choose the vest design that will deliver your needed level of protection.
Military type vests offers maximum level of protection with compartments that can accommodate gears such as radio or gun.
Concealable vests are those that are worn beneath your ordinary clothes, its ballistic reinforced panels are designed to conform to the shape of the upper torso of its wearer.
The vest slips is typically covered with a coated pouch or slip, which makes it extremely reliable for high-risk applications.
About 80 Americans die from gun violence each day.
We see news of terrorist attacks and threats every day.
A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the cost of interpersonal violence in the United States amounted to $300 Billion per year.
If only people have learned of the benefits of owning and wearing bulletproof jackets, these numbers should have controlled.
Violence has ruined enough lives and families all over the world; you certainly would not want risking yours.