Bill would punish criminals who wear bulletproof vests

ATLANTA - The only active police officer serving in Legislature wants to target criminals who wear bulletproof vests. <br> <br> Democratic Representative Victor Hill of College Park proposed a bill Wednesday to make it a felony to wear a bulletproof vest during the commission of a crime. Hill called such offenders ``the most dangerous criminals on the street.&#39;&#39; He wants them to serve extra jail time for wearing a vest. <br> <br> He is a detective for Clayton County police. <br> <br> Hill said, ``When you find a criminal wearing a bulletproof vest, that means they&#39;re probably planning on getting in a shootout with police. That puts the general public in a great deal of danger.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The bill stands a good chance of being considered because one of the co-sponsors is Representative Mike Snow, a Chickamauga Democrat who leads the Public Safety Committee. Snow&#39;s committee will consider the bill. <br> <br> Snow said, ``It doesn&#39;t take a rocket scientist to figure out that anybody who would wear one of these things isn&#39;t afraid of firing at police. To me, I think wearing a vest is almost like another weapon.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The crime would be punishable by up to five years in prison.