Second Chance (body armor)
Encyclopedia
Second Chance is a body armor
manufacturing company and was the first one to use kevlar
for body armor. The company was founded in the early 1970s by former U.S. Marine
and pizza delivery owner/driver Richard Davis. Davis developed the idea of a bulletproof vest after shooting three armed robbers during a delivery out of self defense. This incident was later documented in a 1995 book written by firearms instructor Massad Ayoob
called The Ayoob Files: The Book.
Davis started his company out of his garage. In early sales demonstrations, he would put on one of his vests and then shoot himself, usually with a firearm provided by whatever agency he was demonstrating for.
In 1998, Second Chance introduced Zylon
-based body armor (bullet-resistant vests), as a lightweight alternative to kevlar. The Zylon material used in the vests was supplied by Japan
-based Toyobo.
In June 2005, the National Institute of Justice
, the United States government agency responsible for developing safety standards, determined that these Zylon-based vests did not meet the required standards and may be defective. The United States Department of Justice
advised law enforcement agencies to replace the vests used by police
officers.
On August 2, 2005, Second Chance was acquired by Armor Holdings, Inc.
for US$45 million
.
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...
manufacturing company and was the first one to use kevlar
Kevlar
Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965, this high strength material was first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires...
for body armor. The company was founded in the early 1970s by former U.S. Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and pizza delivery owner/driver Richard Davis. Davis developed the idea of a bulletproof vest after shooting three armed robbers during a delivery out of self defense. This incident was later documented in a 1995 book written by firearms instructor Massad Ayoob
Massad Ayoob
Massad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor. He has taught police techniques and civilian self-defense to both law enforcement officers and private citizens in numerous venues since 1974...
called The Ayoob Files: The Book.
Davis started his company out of his garage. In early sales demonstrations, he would put on one of his vests and then shoot himself, usually with a firearm provided by whatever agency he was demonstrating for.
In 1998, Second Chance introduced Zylon
Zylon
Zylon is a trademarked name for a range of thermoset liquid crystalline polyoxazole...
-based body armor (bullet-resistant vests), as a lightweight alternative to kevlar. The Zylon material used in the vests was supplied by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based Toyobo.
In June 2005, the National Institute of Justice
National Institute of Justice
The National Institute of Justice is the research, development and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice. NIJ, along with the Bureau of Justice Statistics , Bureau of Justice Assistance , Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , Office for Victims of Crime ,...
, the United States government agency responsible for developing safety standards, determined that these Zylon-based vests did not meet the required standards and may be defective. The United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
advised law enforcement agencies to replace the vests used by police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officers.
On August 2, 2005, Second Chance was acquired by Armor Holdings, Inc.
Armor Holdings, Inc.
Armor Holdings, Inc. was a manufacturer of military, law enforcement and personnel safety equipment. It was acquired by BAE Systems on July 31, 2007 and renamed BAE Systems Mobility & Protection Systems...
for US$45 million
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
.
Further reading
- Ayoob, MassadMassad AyoobMassad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor. He has taught police techniques and civilian self-defense to both law enforcement officers and private citizens in numerous venues since 1974...
(1995). The Ayoob Files: The Book. Concord, NH: Police Bookshelf. ISBN 0936279168.
External links
- Official website
- Bulletproof Vest Initiative - U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Government Sues Maker of Defective Police Body Armor - AP article on officer.com
- Second Chance on Zylon recall