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A recent November 2023 NBC News poll brought some interesting findings to light – it turns out 52% of Americans are now gun owners or at the very least rely on someone else in the household to pack heat in the event of an emergency. That's a jump from 46% in 2019 and 42% in 2013, setting a record for gun-toting households in NBC poll history.

It seems like more folks are finally starting to see firearms as the self-defense tools they’re meant to be. Ironically (but unsurprisingly), most of those who advocate for stricter gun control don’t happen to own any guns at all. A CNN poll revealed that 76% of non-gun households support taking away firearms from the average American. On the flip side, only 45% of gun-owning households are in favor of any sort of gun control.

When it comes to the government's role, opinions are likewise divided. About 58% believe the government can put a stop to mass shootings, while the other 42% are a bit skeptical. Some argue that no matter what laws are in place, bad stuff is bound to happen. Murder's been a crime since biblical times, and even the threat of the death penalty hasn't been able to scare off determined murderers and terrorists.

So, who's responsible for your safety? Well, it looks like it's on you, not the government. You're your own first responder. In a worst-case scenario, the police might take a few minutes to swoop in, and by then, it could be too late.

So, what's your game plan? Take a good look at where you live, check out how prevalent crime is in your local area, and don't forget to look up your state's gun laws to see if you can even carry a gun to defend yourself in the first place. If safety's your top priority and your state allows it, consider applying for a concealed carry license. The best guarantor of your own safety is a trusty handgun you’re trained and familiar with. If you’re on the fence about carrying around a weapon or if your state’s laws don’t permit you to carry one, but you’re still concerned about gun violence in your area, consider a BulletSafe VP3 vest or a tactical plate carrier for that extra layer of protection.

The VP3 is the pinnacle of lightweight, concealable body armor. It's made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with a blend of aramid fibers to make a lightweight yet dense material, weighing in at just 5.16lbs for an extra-large vest. You can slip it under your clothes or a hefty jacket without feeling like you're hauling around a suit of armor. Plus, it's NIJ certified and packs a punch, stopping everything from a 9mm to a .44 magnum.

BulletSafe's tactical plate carrier kit is equipped with Level IV plates, capable of defeating rifle fire from most firearms up to 30-06 AP. The no-nonsense plate carrier is lightweight and free of unnecessary obstructions, with integrated MOLLE webbing for users to add their own accessories. This plate carrier is perfect for security officers or law enforcement agencies who need the heavier kit to deal with more substantial security threats.

In a world where opinions on gun ownership and government intervention vary widely, it's clear that personal safety is a matter of individual responsibility. The rising number of gun owners reflects a growing belief in self-protection, as highlighted by shifting perspectives on gun control. Whether you choose to exercise your Second Amendment rights or advocate for stronger regulations, the reality is that being your own first responder is paramount. As discussions around safety continue, considering practical measures, like obtaining a concealed carry license or investing in protective gear like the BulletSafe VP3 vest, underscores the importance of proactive personal security. In the end, the path to safety may differ, but taking charge of your own well-being in a world where uncertainties persist is something we should all be thinking about.

Have you ever found yourself pondering the unthinkable scenario of a Thanksgiving feast turning into a chaotic showdown, with grandma, fed up with her daughter-in-law's cooking, brandishing a 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun from beneath the dining table? No? Excellent, that means you're sane.

Yet, with Turkey Day swiftly approaching, we at BulletSafe saw an opportunity to shed light on a rather unique form of protection. Picture this hypothetical situation: a dining table, accommodating six to eight guests, stretches to 78 inches or 2 yards in length. If shotgun-toting grandma were to open fire from one end of the table, every shot would be considered point-blank. Shotguns, originally crafted for close-quarters combat within the confines of World War I trenches, can wreak havoc at such close range.

While some hunters may argue that they've taken shots at a turkey only for it to flee, likening it to shooting a bulletproof vest encased in stuffing, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. First, a live turkey is protected by a robust layer of feathers designed to shield it from the elements. Second, when a turkey is hit in the body by a shotgun with turkey loads from distances exceeding 40 yards, it might be wounded but is unlikely to meet its demise due to the aforementioned protective feather layer.

At point-blank range, however, the tables turn, and the turkey's fate is sealed.

That is unless you take two crucial steps: a vigilant weapons check at the entrance to prevent any potential dinner table disruptions and the fortification of your beloved turkey with a BulletSafe IIIA bulletproof vest. Even at point-blank range, the BulletSafe IIIA vest can thwart large-caliber slug rounds and heavy buckshot like 00. While it may result in some unsightly deformation on your centerpiece, you can rest assured that none of the shotgun pellets will breach its defenses.

Soft armor vests, such as the BulletSafe VP3, boast a NIJ Level IIIA rating, primarily designed to halt pistol caliber rounds ranging from 9mm to .44 magnum. However, in practice, they also provide protection against shotgun rounds, either from buckshot or slugs.

In one of our videos, BulletSafe’s very own Jake demonstrated the dependability of our VP3 vests by actually up-armoring a turkey and blasting it with a round of buckshot followed up with a slug to the back. Just as predicted, there was no penetration.

While we sincerely hope that no one has to grapple with shotgun-wielding, holiday-induced chaos this Thanksgiving, we, at BulletSafe, encourage you to prioritize your safety in this unpredictable world. Consider acquiring one of our bulletproof vests for added peace of mind.

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As Halloween approaches, it's not just the spooky costumes and haunted houses that capture our imagination. At BulletSafe, we decided to combine the spirit of the season with a bit of science and firearms expertise in a fun and unconventional way. Jake, a Brand Manager at BulletSafe, took the stage to test whether pumpkins could withstand the impact of various handgun and rifle calibers. The result? A fascinating and entertaining experiment that left us all in awe and reinforced an essential safety message.

Jake kicked off the experiment with a 9mm FMJ round. The round managed to punch its way through four pumpkins before coming to rest in the fifth. The soft, fleshy interior of the pumpkins didn't prove to be a significant challenge for this relatively small caliber bullet.

Next up was a .45 caliber round. This bullet, with its larger size and greater force, was able to penetrate five pumpkins and even nick the sixth. The pumpkins seemed to offer little resistance to this bullet's path.

But the real excitement came when Jake decided to bring out the big guns, in this case, a .44 Magnum. Firing a soft-point jacketed round, the .44 Magnum plowed through all the way to the seventh pumpkin. It was becoming evident that pumpkins were no match for these powerful bullets.

In a playful twist, Jake then had some Halloween-themed fun with a 12-gauge shotgun, systematically eliminating a row of frightening pumpkins. It was a reminder of the sheer force and impact that shotguns possess.

But what's the takeaway from this entertaining experiment? Beyond the festive spirit and the impressive demonstration of bullet penetration, it's a crucial reminder of the need for effective personal protection. Pumpkins, while they might make excellent Halloween decorations, are no match for real-world ballistic threats.

As the video concludes, Jake artfully transforms a makeshift Jack-O-Lantern into the final menacing pumpkin, showcasing a bit of Halloween spirit amidst the ballistic excitement.

So, this Halloween, while you're enjoying the spookiness and fun of the season, remember that if you ever need vital protection, a pumpkin definitely won't cut it. BulletSafe offers a range of ballistic protection equipment, such as the VP3  bulletproof vest, designed to provide you with the peace of mind you need in a world where safety is paramount.

Happy Halloween from the folks at BulletSafe, where science, bullets, and pumpkins collide to create an unforgettable holiday spectacle!

In the realm of fiction, a concealable vest is capable of defeating anything from a 9mm to a Libyan AK round. In reality, not all vests are created equal. The protective power of a bulletproof vest depends largely on the type of material the vest is made from as well as the round used to hit it.

Just like its many inaccurate portrayals of romantic relationships and one-man armies, Hollywood gets bulletproof vests wrong. Here are just a few examples:

Alien Nation (1988): In this science fiction thriller, a .454 Casull casually blows a hole through a soft armor vest at a police firing range. In reality, soft armor vests used by police are rated at Level IIIA, capable of stopping most handgun rounds up to .44 Magnum. While the .454 Casull is a larger round than the .44 Magnum, independent testing has shown that it will not likely be able to penetrate soft armor. However, even if a victim wears a IIIA vest, they will still suffer from heavy internal bleeding from the sheer force of the round.

Back to the Future (1985): In this classic time travel action-comedy, the eccentric scientist Doc Brown gets riddled with AK rounds by angry Libyan terrorists who were cheated out of their plutonium, an event which forced his assistant Marty McFly to travel back in time to warn him. One full-length feature film and a time skip later, Doc Brown dons a bulletproof vest and gets shot again, but is saved thanks to his new bulletproof armor, which in reality would have not done much to stop the 7.62x39mm AK rounds. Being soft armor, the maximum rating for these bulletproof vests would be Level IIIA and the vast majority of centerfire rifle rounds would have punched straight through. In contrast, Level III and IV bulletproof armor is made of rigid ceramic, steel, or UHMWPE plates, and these are the only types of armor meant to stop centerfire rifle rounds like the .223 or the AK’s 7.62x39mm.

Batman Begins (2005): Batman’s bat suit is both flexible and bulletproof. It is made from a Nomex outer shell with a sublayer of bulletproof armor. This armored layer would be feasible if it was made from a lightweight material like ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, the same material BulletSafe bulletproof vests are made from.

Realistically, though, Bruce Wayne asks his head of R&D, Lucis Fox, to make a suit that’s more resistant to dog bites. Even though a vest might be rated to stop high velocity ballistic rounds, the same vest might not be rated to stop things like knives or other sharp, narrow objects like dog fangs from piercing it.

Hollywood often portrays bulletproof vests as being capable of stopping any round, regardless of the caliber or type. However, the reality is that bulletproof vests are not perfect, and they can only stop certain types of rounds up to a certain caliber.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has a rating system for bulletproof vests, which goes from Level I to Level IV. Level I vests are the least protective, and they can only stop pistol rounds up to .357 Magnum. Level IV vests are the most protective, and they can stop rifle rounds up to .30-06 Springfield.

It's important to note that even Level IV vests cannot stop all rifle rounds. There are some very powerful rifle cartridges, such as the .50 BMG, that can penetrate any bulletproof vest.

So, if you're looking for the best possible protection, you need to choose a bulletproof vest that is rated to stop the types of rounds you're most likely to encounter. And, it's important to remember that even the best bulletproof vest cannot guarantee complete protection.

BulletSafe bulletproof vests are made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which is one of the strongest and lightest materials available. BulletSafe vests are rated to stop a wide range of pistol and rifle rounds, up to and including .30-06 Springfield.

BulletSafe vests are also comfortable to wear and can be concealed under clothing. They are ideal for law enforcement, security personnel, and anyone else who needs the best possible protection from ballistic threats.

Click here to learn more about our bulletproof vests and to place an order.

The concept of a person wearing a bulletproof vest often conjures up images of invincibility, with some assuming that it should provide complete protection from gunfire. However, the reality is that bulletproof vests are designed not to make the wearer impervious to injury but to save lives. Even if someone is wearing a bulletproof vest when they’re shot, it’s highly likely that he or she will sustain grievous injuries from the event and may even be knocked out. Still, there are some who wonder why it does not cover the entire torso since modern bulletproof vests typically do not extend below the navel.

One of the foremost reasons bulletproof vests do not extend below the navel is to ensure the wearer's freedom of movement. While the primary goal is to protect against ballistic threats, it is equally important for individuals wearing these vests to be able to perform essential tasks, such as running, sitting, and even driving, without hindrance.

Most bulletproof vests cover this area above the pelvis, allowing freedom of joint movement while protecting the most vital internal organs.

A bulletproof vest that covers the entire torso, including the abdominal region, would limit the wearer's flexibility and comfort significantly. Blocking the body's flexible abdominal muscles with rigid armor material would make sitting down in a patrol car or armored vehicle uncomfortable and restrictive. In emergency situations, officers and security personnel need to be agile and quick on their feet, and cumbersome armor could impede their response time.

The practice of designing armor to end at or slightly above the navel has a historical precedent dating back to the Middle Ages. Medieval breastplates or cuirasses featured a lower front piece known as the "plackart" that ended at the "natural waist," which is just above the belly button. Below this section, metal strips known as "faulds" flared out, resembling a skirt. This design allowed knights and men-at-arms to move freely, whether on foot or horseback. The faulds, in particular, played a crucial role in enabling mobility without sacrificing protection.

In modern law enforcement and security, duty belts are essential equipment for officers and security personnel. These belts come equipped with various accessory pouches, containing items like handcuffs, tourniquets, radios, and firearms. Easy access to these tools is vital for professionals who may need to respond swiftly to a wide range of situations.

A full-torso bulletproof vest that extends below the navel would obstruct the duty belt and make it challenging to reach these critical tools quickly. In high-stress situations, any hindrance in accessing equipment could have dire consequences. Therefore, maintaining a clear and unobstructed path to the duty belt is a practical consideration that influences the design of bulletproof vests.

While some armor solutions with more extensive body coverage do exist, such as the U.S. Army's Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), these vests are often met with disdain by troops due to their weight and mobility issues. Carrying additional weight can be physically demanding, especially for those who need to be agile and responsive in dynamic situations. Balancing protection with the ability to move swiftly is a delicate trade-off.

In summary, the design of bulletproof vests not extending below the navel is a deliberate choice to strike a balance between protection and practicality.