“Why would someone like you ever need body armor?” This was a question my soon-to-be-ex-wife asked me around Christmas 2023. (And, no, that question alone isn’t the reason we’re getting divorced.) At the time, us both knowing the sh*t we were going through, I joked, “Sometimes I just want a tight, heavy embrace.” I referenced her weighted blanket and inserted my own standard of sarcasm — a fine mix of truth and snide humor. But her question did get me thinking: Why, indeed?
I am 100 percent civilian. And in the context of armor-manufacturer brand speak — where it’s important to further classify context — I’m a “law-abiding” and/or “concerned” citizen. My training background is mostly competition-focused, with a small degree of personal defense as it relates EDC and home security. I can likely electric slide better than I can Groucho walk. But I’m highly intentional in most aspects of my life, especially when it comes to self-sustainability and protecting the ones I love. Below are some reasons why every civilian should consider investing in body armor, followed by insight as to why they shouldn’t.
1 THE WORLD CHANGED FOUR YEARS AGO — AND NOT FOR THE BETTER.
During our interview for our Issue 72 piece “7 Lifesaving Skills Every Gun Owner Should Know,” Wesley Medical trauma director Dr. David Acuna shared how shootings went up significantly
