[Socrates]

Always amazed that even if you get the right answers, you may end up with a different thought then when you went in.

Next to my bed is the vest, double plates, supposed to be good against 357, electronic boosted hearing protection, and, prior to this post, inadequate light. I've never been a light on the gun type, so now, instead of a kel-lite, I've got a 10 million candle search light by the bed, as well. This gives me blinding light, without having it on my gun.

Now, since I have to drive into part of East Oakland tonight, I'm giving serious thought to the vest. I originally asked for it for the high school I'd been working in.
One day, after lunch, I came back to what appeared to be two students, one who was supposed to be in my class, having a gropping session with what appeared to be another gang affiliated student. I WAS WRONG. Since the girl failed to enter class, or say anything, I had been instructed by the principal to lock the door, and, since they do tardy sweeps, the students not in class get trash detention. Turned out the guy was not a student, had come in from off campus, and that explained why he was totally ignoring my instructions. I also, in retrospect, suspect he was drunk, or high, judging by his actions.

A bit later I talked to the girl, and asked her why she was tardy, and hadn't followed my instructions. Turns out she can barely speak English, and was too scared to say anything at the time. I'm usually pretty good at picking stuff up, but, when you have 35 high school students in a room, and you are at the door, turn away, or go outside for a second, and things disappear, or bad things can happen.

I had security come up, escort her down to the principals office, and, try and see if we could identify the guy, if he was a student. She came back to class, and, couldn't find the guys picture. It then dawned on my it was an outsider, maybe from another high school, or drop out.

I said all that, because if I had confronted him, I might very well have been in a situation that I would not like. Also, I was faced with my duty to protect the girl, if I'd known the guy was gropping her against her will.

Another scenario is if I break up the stuff, or get into it with the guy, he might well be back, with some of his friends, with weapons. Then what do you do? The vest might turn a knife, 9mm, 380 or 22, pretty easily.

So, I guess tonight I'll see if I can dress baggy enough to hide it, and see how comfortable it is driving for an hour...

By the way, my work takes me into Richmond and Oakland, and some other not so nice areas on a regular basis. Nothing I can do about it at the present...