By Sky News SkyNews - Friday, April 4 07:24 am A new bullet-proof hoodie to protect against street violence is due to go on sale later this month. The £300 "Defender" hoodie makes the wearer's upper body invincible to 9mm Magnum handgun bullets, according to its maker. It was developed by London-based company Bladerunner, which also manufactures stab-proof tops. Company owner Barry Samms said a mother from Walthamstow, east London, whose son had been mugged three times, was among customers asking for bullet-proof clothing. "We've had quite a lot of interest from the US and a couple of calls from the UK," he said. "Our current customers range from undercover police to security workers to concerned parents." The top is made from a new fibre called Dyneema, which is thinner than the material used to make traditional bullet-proof vests. Mr Samms denied his firm was targeting teenage gang members with the invention, claiming the hoodie was the best way of disguising its bullet-proof nature. "It's only a hoodie because you can't really put a zip across the front of something bullet-proof," he said. "Adults wear hoodies too. My mum wears one and you don't see her hanging out on street corners. "We really thought last year when we brought out the stab-proof top that they were going to be for teenagers, yet they are the last people to actually buy one." Mr Samms said the hoodie was primarily aimed at US customers concerned by the amount of gun violence in their country. "I don't see that there is much of a market in the UK, because luckily we have such strict gun laws," he said. "People don't have to go to such extremes to protect themselves over here." The hoodie is currently in the prototype stage, but orders can already be placed with Bladerunner, which has offices in Romford, Essex.
If this really start selling, look for gangs to move to ammo with more penetrating power, such as teflon-coated bullets.
Yeah, if it can only stop a weak little 9mm then they'll move up to .40s and .45s. Still, that is pretty cool. I'd like to see an actual one that works.
says a lot about the low level of animal behavior in so-called 'most advanced' countries, that something like that would even be thought of!
That is pretty cool. The maker says it's not targeting gang members, but that doesn't seem to be the case, imo.
that sounds cool but inevitably gangs will start to buy them once they get cheaper. real clever innovation though.
I can see the television ad "You're hoodie isn't safe enough for a bullet," *shoots a kid* "See" *New kid, with new hoodie* "Now it is" *shots the kid but the kid is still standing, smiling, and gives a thumbs up.
and i have to predict it will sell more to gang-bangers whose illicit activities enable 'em to afford the latest in weapons, armor-piercing ammo, and cellphones, than to the law-abiding, who have mortgages, kids' college tuition and the like to pay for, so can't afford 'em...
Funny that was the very exact image I conjured up in my thoughts after reading this. I'm afraid this is something I cannot take seriously.
Possibly. It would help someone anticipating getting shot, but it could do more harm in the long run. Someone stated that gangs will just find more powerful weapons. More powerful weapons can result in by standards potentially getting hurt more often and increased violence (theoretically).
I have to agree, it seems more to me like these hoodies will sell to the people who are in anticipation of being shot - such as gang members, or people involved in that sort of activity. Also, they will be too expensive for the majority and for those that are involved in violence it will prompt them to use stronger weapons.
