In 2015 the EPA issued a Notice of Violation of the Clean Air Act to the respected auto manufacturer Volkswagen. The EPA alleged that Volkswagen installed software in many of its diesel vehicles to circumvent EPA emissions standards. The deception eventually led to Volkswagen pleading guilty to three criminal felony counts and entering into a multi-billion-dollar settlement.

The biggest problem with cases like these is not that they hurt a single company; it's that they tarnish the industry's reputation as a whole. While we have hard numbers showing what Volkswagen had to pay out it’s difficult to quantify the effects stemming from the loss of consumer trust across the entire automotive industry.

The body armor business is not immune to such a scandal. In this article we'll explore some recent examples of companies that took similar advantage of consumers in our own industry. We'll also get into the importance of transparency especially for life-saving products.

A Cautionary Tale: BulletProof-IT and ShotStop Ballistics

Sacrificing integrity in the pursuit of profits is an all-too-easy trap for a business to fall into. Many of our customers will be familiar with the recent scandals surrounding BulletProof-IT and ShotStop Ballistics.

In March 2023 the owner of BulletProof-IT pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. This came on the heels of an investigation into some seemingly deceitful business practices. Those practices included fabricating test results of low-quality ballistic protective equipment and knowingly and intentionally marketing products as American-made though produced in China.

Later that same year ShotStop Ballistics ceased operations in Stow OH after an NIJ investigation discovered Chinese-made materials in its armor products. The company marketed these products as American-made and NIJ-certified which was not the case. ShotStop Ballistics filed for bankruptcy in May 2024.

The Tarnishing of an Industry

Instances like this must be incredibly rare right? One would hope. But you might be surprised to see how readily people accepted these companies as legitimate while they were operating.

BulletProof-IT sold ballistics products over the course of about six years to many agencies on the local state and federal levels including police fire and military.

At the time of this blog you can still find questionable customer tests and review videos of ShotStop armor online. You'll even find a 2021 video by a respected 2A community influencer recommending ShotStop Duritium plates.

As with the Volkswagen example the BulletProof-IT and ShotStop scandals don’t simply affect the bad actors. It can lead to a lack of confidence across the board. Consumers begin to wonder:

• How pervasive is this practice?
• Who else is cheating the system?
• Which companies can I trust?

That’s a good and normal response when feeling betrayed and vulnerable. When companies fail to deliver on their promises they undermine the very foundation of consumer trust. That’s why we encourage you to do your due diligence in researching whichever company you purchase from including us at Spartan Armor Systems. We’ll even help you get started.

Spartan Armor Systems: Built on Trust

Nothing could be more critical in the personal protection industry than trust. The moment the customer puts on a ballistic vest that customer is saying "I'm trusting this product and the people who made it with my life."

At Spartan Armor Systems we believe the best way to build trust is through consistent quality and transparency.

Devotion to Quality Assurance

We’re committed to manufacturing superior reliable American-made body armor at our Tucson AZ operations facility. Keeping our production local allows us to oversee the entire manufacturing process from beginning to end. We use top-grade materials sourced from local domestic suppliers all of which are traceable back to the source. From NIJ certifications to independent lab validations we will not compromise your safety.

Commitment to Transparency

Our customers deserve to know exactly what they are investing in. That’s why we provide test results with all body armor purchased and promote NIJ Certification on only our NIJ Certified (0101.06 Standards) body armor. From material composition to ballistic ratings we leave no room for doubt or ambiguity.

Labels That Mean What They Say

With Spartan Armor what you see is what you get. Some of the labels you’ll find attached to various products are:

• Made in the USA: We will never import untested Chinese body armor and simply slap a Made in USA sticker on it.
• NIJ-certified: An NIJ-certified plate has undergone rigorous testing in an NIJ-certified lab. This means more than meets NIJ standards which indicates that the manufacturer probably only self-tested the product.
• Berry Compliant: The product adheres to the Berry Amendment which requires the U.S. Department of Defense to prioritize purchasing domestically produced goods.

When you see one of these labels on our products it's there for a reason—not to deceive or mislead.

Conclusion

This industry's stakes are too high to play games with your customers' safety. That's why Spartan Armor Systems wants to empower you to make an informed decision one that guarantees your security and peace of mind. Check us out and see why we’re the industry leader in American-made body armor and the most reliable company around.

Our commitment to transparency and quality is unmatched. Spartan Armor Systems upholds the values of American craftsmanship and reliability so you can protect what’s yours.