The latest must-have hoodlum garb

Young thugs in Britain have been running around in so-called "hoodies" for years. These are sweatsuit tops with hoods, which they wear pulled low over their faces so that security cameras can't identify them.

Now a British company, Bladerunner, has taken the concept one step further. They're producing a bulletproof hoodie.




According to a newspaper report:

While the hoodie is being marketed as a sensible precaution, critics will certainly see bulletproof protection as another step up in the spiralling violence among Britain's youngsters - by prompting gangs to arm themselves even more heavily.

Barry Samms, who owns its British manufacturer Bladerunner, said today: "This hoodie stops bullets.

"Last year we launched a knife-resistant hooded top in the UK and it's selling very well. I was taken aback at how well it has sold."

He insisted that buyers of the previous top had not been confined to youths who hang around in the streets.

"We have sold those hoodies to people from every walk of life. We have sold them to NHS staff, teachers, bus drivers, train drivers and we even had a priest call up," Mr Samms said.

"When we launched the hoodies which stop knives we thought our main customers would be young males but it has really been anything but that.

"We have sold them to women who go jogging in the morning or at night and to people who catch the late train home."

The new garment costs the equivalent of about US $600 and will be sold in the USA by mail order. I wonder how long it'll take before our local gang-bangers start wearing these? Local law enforcement personnel might want to take note. Furthermore, since these can't easily be distinguished from normal clothing, I'm worried that criminals might have their family send them one of these to wear inside prison, making them less vulnerable to attack and perhaps giving them the idea that they can now lash out at others with relative impunity.

This will bear watching . . .

Peter