Ballistic shields are very vital tools for law enforcement agents and other agencies. However, they are not a good tool on a combat field. A ballistic shield loses its functional edge on a battlefield – and more so against an unconventional foe.
For starters, its cumbersome size and weight reduce a rifleman’s speed and mobility. And these are two important traits that are not easily sacrificed by warriors. It’s always better to dodge a bullet than to block it, for obvious reasons. A modern troop will be equipped with heavy gear, ammo, and a chest full of patriotism. The ballistic shield is lightweight only in the sense that it weighs under 20 pounds.
It just becomes another thing to lug around with no comfortable method of carrying. It would be another asinine piece of gear that could potentially get you killed because some congressman and a defense firm shook hands. Firefights can sometimes last hours, days, or in some of the most brutal circumstances – months, and you can literally and metaphorically find yourself fighting single-handed.
Another thing is that some unconventional enemies use high-caliber, armor-piercing rounds. Most of what you would find when fighting communists or terror organizations would turn a ballistic shield into Swiss cheese. You won’t find the Islamic State imposing their twisted ideologies with a 9mm. An Improvised Explosive Device buried underneath the ground will effectively neutralize any benefit of that additional armor.
Unlike most threats faced by law enforcement, most military battles don’t devolve into a “Mexican Stand-Off,” sealed away from the rest of the city. If the enemy is fortified, but there are no hostages or prisoners of war, there are other options. Ballistic shields have earned their place as a staple for law enforcement because they have a specific purpose. Those same shields offer little to no benefit in military combat.
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