Any interest in "bulletproof" inserts for backpacks?

[Cuda440]

Will they handle multiple shots from a 338 LM?

Hopefully you wouldn't believe me if I said yes (not that I would say that, because it sure as heck won't, it would be interesting to see if we could stack enough layers to stop it though. Not sure a 2nd grader would be able to carry that backpack though).

But if you have one, I will gladly invite you to one of my test sessions, just so I can shoot it

Sorry, it was a joke about the original mall ninja and I couldn't resist.

Google Gecko45 or mall ninja for the back story

[vantage]

Likely unnecessary product. However, once my daughter is in school she'll definitely have one.

[TKM]

A company in San Diego opened and closed with a similar product about ten years ago. I believe they were called Force Field.

The idea was to have little Billy unfold the ballistic panels in his back pack, pull them over his head and well,,,,,

[SanPedroShooter]

When I was kid in LA schools, they stopped letting you take a bag into class. You had to bput everything in lockers. If you were going to use something like this, you would probably need it in the class room right?

I like idea of those bullet proof clip boards though. I was thinking that if someone was going to shoot you, and you were unarmed or to slow, what would you do? Hold your arms straight out in front of you to 'stop the blow'. Its a reflex. It would be nice if the things in your hands was bullet resistent....

[shawmcbigdis]

A company in San Diego opened and closed with a similar product about ten years ago. I believe they were called Force Field.

The idea was to have little Billy unfold the ballistic panels in his back pack, pull them over his head and well,,,,,

Wow that seems overly cumbersome to say the least.

The idea with mine, is the theory that in the event of a school (or any public) shooting, your child's best bet is to run away, far away as fast as they can. The armor in the backpack will protect their center mass while they are running away from the gunshots to safety.

[shawmcbigdis]

When I was kid in LA schools, they stopped letting you take a bag into class. You had to bput everything in lockers. If you were going to use something like this, you would probably need it in the class room right?

I like idea of those bullet proof clip boards though. I was thinking that if someone was going to shoot you, and you were unarmed or to slow, what would you do? Hold your arms straight out in front of you to 'stop the blow'. Its a reflex. It would be nice if the things in your hands was bullet resistent....

Funny, a lot of schools around here have removed the lockers, and they make you carry your bag around all the time. Consequently a lot of schools issue a set of books for home, and then have a set in the classroom, so you don't have to carry all your books with you all the time. Therefore, the whole, books in the backpack are bullet resistant too argument while true, doesn't work in a school where they don't carry books.

[Curtis]

I like the idea. Makes me think about measuring up my kids' backpacks.

[renardsubtil]

When I was kid in LA schools, they stopped letting you take a bag into class. You had to bput everything in lockers. If you were going to use something like this, you would probably need it in the class room right?

I like idea of those bullet proof clip boards though. I was thinking that if someone was going to shoot you, and you were unarmed or to slow, what would you do? Hold your arms straight out in front of you to 'stop the blow'. Its a reflex. It would be nice if the things in your hands was bullet resistent....

Bullet proof clip board...

[tyrist]

Of all the dangers facing a child this is not one worth any type of significant investment.

[shawmcbigdis]

Of all the dangers facing a child this is not one worth any type of significant investment.

While I agree the odds are small (extremely small), that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth no investment.

Take kidnapping for example. Do you let your small children (under 10) run around a store or mall by themselves? Of course not, and not just because you don't want them to break anything, but because you don't want them to get kidnapped. Yet, there are only about 7 kids a year kidnapped from public places like that. While on average about 20 kids a year are killed in school shootings.

Sure there are over 60 millions students in America, so 20 in 60 million, or 1 in 3 million, are pretty slim odds. But those odds don't mean a damn thing if your kid is one of those 20.

Again, I don't think everyone should have one of these (although I don't think that's a horrible idea either), but if it's worth $200 to you for that little extra piece of mind for this one rare situation that might happen, then so be it. It's just like concealed carry guns. I've never in my life NEEDED a gun to protect myself. But I have one, and I have it with me almost constantly, just in case. And that was a heck of a lot more expensive then this bulletproof panel.

In other words you prepare for anything and everything you can as a parent. I just see this as one more thing on my list of things I can do to help protect my kids.

[tyrist]

While I agree the odds are small (extremely small), that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth no investment.

Take kidnapping for example. Do you let your small children (under 10) run around a store or mall by themselves? Of course not, and not just because you don't want them to break anything, but because you don't want them to get kidnapped. Yet, there are only about 7 kids a year kidnapped from public places like that. While on average about 20 kids a year are killed in school shootings.

Sure there are over 60 millions students in America, so 20 in 60 million, or 1 in 3 million, are pretty slim odds. But those odds don't mean a damn thing if your kid is one of those 20.

Again, I don't think everyone should have one of these (although I don't think that's a horrible idea either), but if it's worth $200 to you for that little extra piece of mind for this one rare situation that might happen, then so be it. It's just like concealed carry guns. I've never in my life NEEDED a gun to protect myself. But I have one, and I have it with me almost constantly, just in case. And that was a heck of a lot more expensive then this bulletproof panel.

In other words you prepare for anything and everything you can as a parent. I just see this as one more thing on my list of things I can do to help protect my kids.

In cases of a school shooting it's far more effective to teach them cover vs concealment than to waste 200 dollars on a backpack with dubious protection ability. If you wanted the backpack to actually be protective you need to use hard armor not soft armor. The bullet will track on soft armor and bend it so it can still enter the body even if the backpack is worn tight. If the backpack is worn loose it's all but worthless.

[shawmcbigdis]

In cases of a school shooting it's far more effective to teach them cover vs concealment than to waste 200 dollars on a backpack with dubious protection ability. If you wanted the backpack to actually be protective you need to use hard armor not soft armor. The bullet will track on soft armor and bend it so it can still enter the body even if the backpack is worn tight. If the backpack is worn loose it's all but worthless.

Actually neither of your statements are true.

My whole reason for looking into this in the first place was after reading an article from a police officer who has dedicated his career to training schools and agencies for a school shooting event. His advice to parents was to talk to the school about what their contingency plan is, but be prepared that it is probably just "lockdown". Which the shooters actually rely on to coral their victims. He suggested to train your kids to just run away, far away off campus to a predetermined location, and he suggested that a backpack full of books makes a pretty effective shield (thus my idea to put an actual shield in the pack).

Now for the armor protecting them, you apparently didn't even read my post. It is a combination of a hard ballistic fiberglass panel and soft Kevlar armor. So the armor won't be able to bend. The fiberglass plate also has the added bonus of protecting them from backspace deformation, and is stab proof.

I'm not trying to start a war with anyone over this. I'm just wondering if anyone besides me would be interested in these things? I'm making some for my kids, and figured it would make sense (economies of scale) to make more if I can.

[SDM44]

I like the idea, but don't really find it that feasible since an occurrence like that (while anything can happen) is pretty rare for most of us. IMO, you're probably better off using that kevlar and money on lining your BOB, which is what I've looked into... mainly for the rigidity of it so it doesn't just flop over.

For the amount of money & time used for your kid's backpack, I'd rather invest in a GPS device that can be hidden into the backpack and/or clothing of a child that has a long battery life and is self-contained and can be used virtually anywhere. IMO, child abduction or getting lost would be more common than the fear of your kids running away from an active shooter at school.

[shawmcbigdis]

I like the idea, but don't really find it that feasible since an occurrence like that (while anything can happen) is pretty rare for most of us. IMO, you're probably better off using that kevlar and money on lining your BOB, which is what I've looked into... mainly for the rigidity of it so it doesn't just flop over.

For the amount of money & time used for your kid's backpack, I'd rather invest in a GPS device that can be hidden into the backpack and/or clothing of a child that has a long battery life and is self-contained and can be used virtually anywhere. IMO, child abduction or getting lost would be more common than the fear of your kids running away from an active shooter at school.

Yes, I will be putting some panels in my BOB also, if I'm doing this, I might as well put it in everything right?

I agree that it is more likely your child will get lost or kidnapped (although in the grand scheme of things a kidnapping is also highly unlikely). But you are assuming some kind of economics where we only have $200 to protect our kids. Honestly I have thought often about a GPS tracker for my kids, and will get one when I find a suitable one. That's just another way I can help protect them, just like this armor panel. Sure, at some point you really shouldn't spend more money on unlikely scenario's, but honestly I'm a nerd, and a firearms geek, so a GPS unit and kevlar armor is just kind of cool and fun for me, so I don't mind spending the extra money on it. That was a massive run-on sentence

Anyway, there does seem to be a little bit of interest in these things. So I will be doing some testing next week of the panels. I will film it all and post the results so every can see what these things can do.

[SocomM4]

Nice idea. School shootings are lame.