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Vested Interests: The Controversy Surrounding Soft Body Armor Standards

NCJ Number
126641
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 17 Issue: 9 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 24-27,66
Author(s)
K W Strandberg
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The disagreement between the National Institute of Justice and PPAA, an industry group, regarding standards for soft body armor focused on two basic issues: the requirement by the NIJ for waterproofing and their refusal to allow the body armor to be smoothed between test rounds.
Abstract
Both sides have valid points, and the deteriorating feelings on both sides will hurt law enforcement in general and the wearing of body armor in particular. Supporters of the NIJ position argue that protection is more important than comfort and that the body-armor industry should not set its own standards. Some manufacturers of body armor agree. In contrast, some manufacturers argue that people are not shot with totally wet vests and that the NIJ standards are so stringent that only 15 percent of vest owners actually wear them. They also argue that the NIJ testing method is flawed and that the PPAA test represents an improvement. The Fraternal Order of Police urges a symposium to resolve the issue. If an agreement does not occur, law enforcement itself will have to develop standards or the government will be asked to intervene.

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