I am covering the political crisis and uprising in Egypt.
While watching clashjes between the demonstrators and anti-riot police... I saw a couple of guys with molotovs.
That was the signal for me to leave, and when was making my way to flee the scene, an armoured vehicle appeared with a policeman who shot me with a shotgun using a non-lethal cartridge.
I've got small wounds, bit of bleeding and some pain in the chest and left arm. I am ok, but my Wested got f**d witgh small holes fro m the bullets.
So, now I hve to order a new Wested, Raiders... so, will call Gemma as soon as I leave Cairo. The bright side is that I will have a really distressed jacket for messy situations now.
As you point out, without it your injuries would have been MUCH worse, so it did what it was designed to do....protect the wearer. We forget jackets like these were designed not as 'costume pieces' or 'window dressing', but for protection against the elements, regardless of WHAT those 'elements' might be. You were absolutely correct in your choice, and should continue to do so if/when such a situation presents itself again.
As others have said, you now have an authentic screen accurate jacket, and one of the coolest jackets out there. 
