A year ago, if you’d talked about getting a bullet proof vest, people would have thought you needed to see a psychiatrist.  But now, I’m beginning to wonder if that’s what the future holds for people who step outside their homes.  We who live in small towns don’t see mass  shootings as something that would happen to us.  After all, everyone knows everyone else, one way or another.  Six degrees of separation are more like two when the population is under 100,000. But the truth is, we aren’t as safe as we think.  Should we all wear body armor at work, school, church, and when shopping?  If  domestic terrorism continues at this year’s pace, the idea doesn’t seem so far out.

Trouble is, bullet proof vests are expensive and uncomfortable.  Going on the net, you find that one offering  decent protection runs around $400.  Say you’re a family of four.  That’s fairly pricey.  And do we really want to scare our kids by suggesting that they need to protect themselves from a knife or bullet?

There’s also the issue of inner wear and outer wear.  Supposedly, it’s better if everyone can see that you’re wearing a protective vest.  But I’m not so sure of that.  If the perpetrator really wants to harm you, he’ll just aim for another place on your body that isn’t covered.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to purchase a bullet proof vest, unless you are a convicted felon.   However, people might look at you oddly, and a police officer might view you with suspicion.  On the other hand, if it became a common practice, you would fit right in with the crowd.

I’m seeing a business opportunity here for some enterprising entrepreneur.  Come up with an inexpensive form of body armor.  Mass produce bullet proof vests and sell them at Walmart in every size, even for kids.  I’m betting they would sell out pretty fast.

If you think it’s been miserable being forced to wear masks during the pandemic, just wait until the government decides we all need to wear bullet proof vests.