To think this school Dad doesn't need to wear body armour for the school run?!

[BellsAreRinging1]

Just that really. He commented that 'it keeps him warm' but it looks like metal! He also has it showing through his zip quite openly rather than zipping his coat to the top! It wouldn't protect him in event if being stabbed because you can see where it is (and therefore where to avoid). Could there be some logic I am not considering or would you expect it's a mental health/general oddball thing? (Not saying the two are the same!)

@UpstartCrow

It's not like that. It's plated back and front.

This is very intriguing. I would look very odd walking the dog and having coffee wearing body armour. I think I would also refuse to explain if I had no valid reason to wear it - which I don't. It's given me ideas - dog walking can be very cold.

Was convinced someone was wearing a stabproof vest once, had it on over their clothes everytime I saw them and I was baffled - eventually noticed a logo and googled it - it was a back brace as other posters said! It fully covered the torso so looked just like something a police officer might wear, I was convinced! But back brace

He could be wearing a weight vest as they can look very similar

This is an Autism vest.

That and him being 'a bit alternative' makes me think its a possibility and he just doesnt want people knowing

No drug dealer will be walking with kids though.

Don't drug dealers have children then?

I’d speak to the school. Say it’s unnerving to parents and kids that he is doing the school run in a stab vest especially given the recent news from Belfast. Say you don’t feel safe.

yabu.whats it really matter to you for?

My money is on the kitten theory or he has a chequered past and it’s a bullet proof vest.

Have been several shootings in and around Glasgow of organised criminals taking their kids to school. People don't wear armour to keep warm, that's ridiculous.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-38635303

I'd be steering clear.

@ginandsinicscrewdriver ‘milngavie’ 😂

@Ginandsonicscrewdriver 😂😂😂😂😂

I think you are fretting over, most likely, nothing.

If he is a criminal or drug dealer then you won’t be the target, he is, so it won’t affect you anyway.
You never know a person.
Murderers, wife beaters, drug dealers, paedophiles, spies etc
They walk amongst us.
They could be your best friend, your neighbour.

He is probably just paranoid about the way the world is going and hoping to protect himself!

AgentProvacateur - actually you're wrong. A very notorious gangster's child was at primary school in Bearsden. The family didn't live locally but it was felt it safer that the children didn't attend the local school.

There were very much the heavyset men wearing bulky vests and driving cars with blacked out windows. This was a few years ago, mind.

Our local drug dealer wore a tiger onesie to bring his kids to my DC school. And yes I do know he a drug dealer as he is now 'on holiday' for the next 15 years.

Are you sure it's not a weighted vest.

weighted vests but I have never known even the hardcore to wear them when just normally walking about.

Unlikely to be the explanation in the OP's example but I know people with osteoporosis who are encouraged to wear them when going about their day-to-day activities.

Family members who developed osteoporosis after chemotherapy had wearing a weight vest recommended to them - and they had to point out that wearing vests with discreet packages in them might not be interpreted in a neutral manner on most public transport or going through security for work or when entering public buildings.

@MacarenaFerreiro was that the family from bishopbriggs?

When you say 'alternative' could he be into metal/goth/punk/cyber and wearing something like this

could be a back brace for medical reasons

Table - connected to the guy shot in the Asda carpark. Not sure where the family lived. Out in the countryside I think.

I got turfed out of my bed in HDU for that guy (9 years ago or so?).

About that yes. I don't think they ever convicted anyone for it either. Hope you recovered quickly, Gin.

New theory, arguably more likely than that crazy kitten one.. he's in a Dom/submissive relationship and he's being forced to wear it as a control mechanism, albeit willingly?

How are you planning to confirm which theory is correct OP? (Hint: not finding out isn't an option the MN crowd will find pleasing )

I used to wear a stab vest for work and on my days off I almost felt bare without it.
I would have happily worn it out of work if i didn’t look like a weirdo.
You feel safe and protected wearing them.
Plus I have anxiety issues and I liked how the pressure and weight of it felt!

In my experience (which is limited, but exists) the guy who needs body armour will be keeping it on the DL, he'll zip up, wear it under clothing, generally try to avoid attention. You have nothing to fear from the wannabe gangster flaunting his badmaness by going about his daily business with it on show. Nothing. Maybe a minor drug dealer who is so minor he has little concern over being pulled by the police or getting put on their radar.