A secret FBI study revealed several years ago that body armor designed for men could be deadly when women use it because of a design flaw that can send bullets ricocheting off women’s chests and up into their throats.
Congress is now considering legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to buy vests designed for the contours of women’s bodies, the Washington Times reports.
The Senate bill orders Homeland Security to work to accommodate “individuals whose body shapes are most closely associated with female agents and officers.”
The National Institute of Justice, which sets standards for body armor used in law enforcement, updated its test methods last year to improve the testing on armor designed for women. That included a new set of shot placements.
