Frequently asked questions:
Q: Can anyone come in to your store, or is it just for public safety?
A: No, anyone can come into our store. However, some items are restricted to law enforcement/public safety only (IE: Some knives, batons, pepper sprays, etc.)
Q: Can my department/organization set up an account easily?
A: Yes, it's as easy as getting us a tax-exempt form if you have one, and a billing address if you'd like to be billed.
Q: Can i come in and buy body armor? Is it available to civilians?
A: Body armor is legal to own if you're a civilian, however, felons are not able to own body armor in NYS.
Q: I want to get pepper spray for my wife's sister's dog's nephew's daughter, but no one online will ship it to me, can i get some at your store?
A: Yes, you can come in and grab some, but you will be limited to civilian spray.
Q: I need a patch/patches sewn on, but I didn't buy the item from you guys, will you be mad if I come in to have it sewn on?
A: We will be mad at you, but we will do it no problem.
Q: Why is Jason so good looking?
A: We aren't sure, it's scary though.
Q: Do you guys sell firearms?
A: We are in the process for our FFL right now, but we are able to sell ammo and accessories.
Q: Do you guys do any kind of dry-cleaning?
A: We do not, but we do all sorts of alterations to your garments.
Armor and Carrier questions:
Body armor- Body armor comes in in all shapes and sizes. What you are doing with your armor and what you are concerned about will factor into what armor is right for you. Most agencies run a level II soft armor vest for standard patrol which is lightweight, flexible, and semi-concealable. If you plan on wearing body armor for 8+ hours a day, for multiple days, soft fitted armor might be the right choice for you. I'll break down the armor types below so you can have somewhat of an idea on what to expect.
Soft body armor (fitted)- Fitted soft armor is the staple for most departments around the US. Fitted armor comes in 3 levels, level IIa, level II, and level IIIa. Level IIa is rarely used, although it is usually the least expensive/thinnest/lightest due to having the least protection of the 3. Level II is the most common of these 3, having a good balance of lightness/thickness between them. Level IIIa seems to be what I get asked the most about, despite not being super popular. Higher cost, naturally heavier/thicker due to having a higher rating. Soft body armor WILL NOT stop rifle rounds such as 5.56x45 or 7.62x39. Fitted armor availability is normally a 4-6 week timeframe.
Soft body armor (plates)- Soft armor plates come in the same variety as the fitted armor does, but at less of a cost. Soft plates come in sizes such as 10x12, 8x10, etc. Leaving the sides exposed vs a fitted vest at the cost of, well, cost. Soft panels also have the benefit of usually being in stock and ready for purchase, toss them in a carrier and on you go.
Hard body armor- There are many, many different types of hard armor and they vary in price drastically, getting as expensive as $600.00 with the same level of protection as a $220 plate. It's a bit much to get into in this web page, but basically lets break it down into steel plates vs composite plates. Steel plates are inexpensive, usually in stock, and stop most rifle rounds you're likely to run into. Being inexpensive, they are heavier than the composite armor plates, making everyday wear a challenge. Expect to pay anywhere from $80-$200 for some of the lighter weight steel plates out there. Composite plates get pretty crazy in pricing but for good reason. Having the highest level of protection, and usually the lightest panels with comfortable multi-curve designs are nice, if you have the budget.
Up armor/Trauma pads- Most department-issued vests have a little 5x8 trauma pad made up of extra kevlar or dyneema and is in a little pocket sitting in front of your main armor. The less expensive ones and included ones are basically there to absorb force if hit in that exact area, and don't offer higher protection levels. When you order a new vest, it's an option to get a higher level trauma pad or even a small rifle plate to put in the front of your vest.
For more info on NIJ standards, and threat levels, please visit https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/223054.pdf