A controversial website offering bulletproof vests and face masks for sale to Bermuda residents was shut down yesterday.A message on the Island Armor website claimed it had been nothing more than a “demo to pitch the idea” of selling such equipment.This newspaper reported yesterday how the site offered concealable vests and masks designed to protect against high velocity bullets. It offered to deliver the equipment to any address in Bermuda, ensuring “absolute confidentiality.”When The Royal Gazette e-mailed the administrator of the website last week they said in a statement — reproduced here unedited: “Island Armor believes that in these unfortunate times, were [sic] citizens fear for their lives one way or another, they should be able to protect themselves against those that aim to do harm.“We are giving citizens an opportunity for that protection. There are those that may criticise us but if we have to save the life of one gang member in order to save the lives of ten innocent bystanders we consider our service ethical.”The administrator — who would not give their name or agree to a telephone interview — made no mention of the website being a demonstration at that time.However, a message posted on the site yesterday — again reproduced unedited — said: “Contrary to the sensational article that appeared in the Sept 04, 2012 Royal Gazzette [sic] we have not sold anything at Islandarmor this website was intended to be a demo to pitch the idea of a Body Armor supplier in Bermuda due to multiple misunderstandings in management this has resulted in extreme media attention, a face mask be for real, due to the public response this idea is closed forever.”The products previously listed on the site at islandarmor.com had been removed and e-mails seeking further information went unanswered.The site listed a non-existent address and phone number for the company. Further research by this newspaper yesterday indicated it was registered to Island Agency in Cloverdale Close, New York, and hosted by godaddy.com in Scottsdale, Arizona.The administrative contact was listed as Richard Fancy, with a live.com e-mail address listed for him. However, an e-mail sent to the address bounced back as undeliverable and there was no such person listed on the electoral roll or in the phone book.News of the website prompted concern from politicians and members of the public alike. There were more than 50 comments posted on our website www.royalgazette.com by 4pm yesterday.A writer under the name Mister Wolf wrote: “Only the gang bangers will be interested in wearing that mask” and said the site was an indication that Bermuda had gone “down the toilet”.JDS BMan wrote: “This is disgraceful. The Government of Bermuda should ban their products and their business in this Island.”Pat Ferguson wrote: “Government should ban this immediately — there should not be one day’s hesitation as we are treading on very dangerous ground.”Several other commenters called for the equipment — which can be bought and sold legally on the Island at present — to be outlawed.However, Opposition politicians Mark Pettingill and Trevor Moniz cautioned against a knee-jerk reaction.Mr Moniz, who is Shadow Attorney General said of the website: “It’s not terribly surprising I guess, with the lack of safety and security we are now seeing with all the gun crimes, but of course it surprised everybody including myself. We are wondering who are these for — the good guys or the bad guys or the innocent bystanders?”Mr Moniz said he is concerned that there should be “some sort of oversight” of the sale of such products so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.“It’s something which, if I was the Minister, I would be taking the advice of the police on although I would not jump into a ban. We need to take a sensible approach and go to the stakeholders and ask what they think,” he said.Mr Pettingill said: “It’s a reflection of the times. It’s not illegal but it’s alarming that someone sees there’s a market for that.”Asked what he thought of calls for a ban, he replied: “This is a reflection of where society has gotten to, so that’s a far bigger question.”Statistics issued on August 30 showed there had been 16 confirmed firearm crimes so far this year including two murders and three people injured. There have been 18 gun murders since an upsurge in gang-related crime in May 2009 — ten of which remain unsolved.Bermuda Police Service has declined to comment on the story. The Royal Gazette attempted to reach National Security Minister Wayne Perinchief and Attorney General Kim Wilson yesterday without success.