I am thinking of buying a bullet proof backpack for my kid

[Le Gaucher]

I have 6 year old daughter .. she is my only kid -- we had her after many years of marriage.

Last month there was a lockdown following a threat. Luckily, it turned out to be a false alarm.

But what if the next time it isnt a false alarm. What if crouching below desk and hiding behind bullet proof backpack might mean the difference.


I dont know much about how effective they are. Would love to hear if anyone has already done the research on this

[mshasta]

1. if you think thats what you need to do

I have not small children, so no good advise comes from me,

[democratisphere]

2. I personally think it is a waste of money. Still a tremendous amount

of body exposure and is of little use unless it is worn all the time. I think the decision has to be yours and yours alone.

[hack89]

3. Useless against any rifle

It could help against a handgun.

[highplainsdem]

4. See these articles from ABC & Time. Those backpacks offer no protection from rifle bullets.

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bulletproof-backpacks/story?id=53362546

http://time.com/money/5175526/bulletproof-backpacks/

[underpants]

8. Good info. To the OP - shooters tend to shoot face to face

a backpack doesn't help

[Le Gaucher]

9. My guess is a kid can use the backpack to as umbrella /shield over the head while in a fetal

position to minimize exposure

But the best solution is Door is armored and goes into lockdown. The shooter should not be able to enter classroom

[Le Gaucher]

12. stunning video .. I saw it ... Jeeez . what can I do as parent !!

[hlthe2b]

5. Given that there have been kevlar "bullet proof" vests that have failed for law enforcement...

I think I'd do some more homework before paying the $$$ for one.

(I seem to remember a recent lawsuit over a vest manufacturer that failed tests)

That said, it is sad you have to consider, but I understand why you are.

[PearliePoo2]

6. Isn't is awful beyond words that a parent has to ponder this at all?

I certainly understand you wanting protection for your little girl, as any parent would.

Questions that I don't know the answer to:

Are such backpacks actually available for sale or would you construct one yourself?

Are kids in class allowed to have their backpacks actually at their desks or stowed in a locker, shelf or closet?

Can bullets from assault rifles penetrate bullet proof vests or backpacks?

[Le Gaucher]

10. They are available on Amazon for $150 .. they also sell inserts to modify a normal backpack

but these are for handgun.. One work by soldiers have steel plates etc are too heavy for kids.

Maybe they can be stored in the classroom you suggested.

[TheBlackAdder]

23. I wouldn't trust anything from an Amazon seller as being legitimate!

.

The chance of this happening is so remote, even with all of the hype, that it's ownership and availability for use make it almost impractical. Someone could just spray rounds into the school from the outside, or while the kids are walking down the street to go home.

If one feels the need to placate those thoughts, and its purchase offers relief, that's fine.

But, it seems tol be more of a false panacea that fosters chronic thoughts of impending death in the child.

I have four kids, and the thought of buying one does not even enter my mind.

.

[DrDan]

7. my daughter has done quite a bit of research for my granddaughter -

I will ask her what she has discovered

[aikoaiko]

11. Im looking at this one

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/bluestone-safety-level-4-body-armor-plate-10x115-shooters-cut?a=1822013

It’s a little heavy but my son is 12z. This will fit in the laptop section of my kid’s backpack.

[Nevernose]

13. Statistically schools are safer than your house

And she’s far more likely to be injured on the drive there.

You’d be much better off donating that money to groups like Everytown and calling your representatives as much as possible, show up at their meetings and offices, etc.

It’s gun violence that’s the problem, not guns in/at schools.

Something REALLY disturbing? Your kid is going to learn how to hide from a shooter before she learns how to count the number of bullets and bodies.

[Le Gaucher]

14. True .. but If a 1000 bucks I can spend that will give her better odds GIVEN

an active shooter scenario .. then I will spend it.

What you are saying is the odds of active shooter is very very low. I get it.

But I am calculating conditional probability not the absolute.

[Hortensis]

15. Well, she's 1 of 4M students in only one of 100,000 public schools

(or 130,000 including private schools), and each has several dozen classrooms; and about 193 school shooting events have taken place since 1999, with most children in those schools never in danger, many not even knowing anything happened.

Don't know how effective a bulletproof backpack would be even if a bullet amazingly came its way, but for sure it would be appallingly heavy for a little girl. And give her a very distorted message about the world she lives in.

You could spend that money instead on a really good car seat, moving the stove so boiling water doesn't have to be carried across the kitchen, documenting a dangerous dog and having it removed from the neighborhood, lottery tickets or...

Or my best idea, use it create some especially nice father-daughter memories. Can never have too many of those, and before you know it she'll be grown up.

[EX500rider]

21. I think the numbers are even bigger then that:

According to the US Census report, there are about to 16 million students enrolled in colleges across the United States (US). And, together with Pre-K through 12th grade, there are a total of 74.6 million students in the US.

Chances of your child ever being in a classroom shooting are very tiny.

Leading causes of death
Children aged 5-14 years

Accidents (unintentional injuries)
Cancer
Intentional self-harm (suicide)

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/child-health.htm

[Hortensis]

25. Hmm. I left out college students, but that doesn't

explain it. Thought 4 million sounded low, must have missed a modifier somewhere.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. There are armor plates that fit in most backpacks

They weigh about 8 lbs, and if a loaded backpack should be about no more than 15% of user's body weight, calculate what daughter would be able to put in it: books, lunch, phone, charger, etc.

Just looking at one quickly, it seems to be fairly effective against rifles, and won't break the bank.

https://bulletproofzone.com/products/ar500-armor-10x12-level-iii-advanced-shooters-cut-asc?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=44297599557&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlo2056GI2gIVBQhpCh086Q3VEAQYBCABEgLMUPD_BwE

Again, for a small child, the weight might be the biggest issue. Her spine is still developing.

[Le Gaucher]

18. I am thinking having these in the class room that she won't have to carry everyday

wonder if these come with a handle at the back

[TEB]

17. Sick and twisted

That as parents we have to deal with this I’ve told our sons. Look if forbid you ever find yourselves compromised play dead. Nice conversation to have with our kids fuck you nra.

[Alliepoo]

19. I understand...

I’ve looked at them online-thinking of buying them for my grands. It sickens me that this is something that even needs to be considered. I guess I’m of the opinion that it can’t really hurt for a child to have one. I was thinking the insert would be the best as we usually get new book bags each school year and the insert can be moved to the new bag. Even if they don’t offer all the protection a child would need, some is better than none. Also, in an adjacent school district, they have available in their schools a brand of door locks called “Barracuda” that can be used in a shooter situation. There was a big dustup between the district and the state of Ohio about using the locks. The “Barracuda” were donated to the school and the state said they couldn’t use them due to the state fire codes. The parents went to work and got the state codes changed! My daughter is working with a group of parents in our school district to see about raising money to purchase these barricades for our schools. You might want to google these door locks/barricades or check Youtube. I think there are videos on how they work. Maybe get some parents together in your area and see if it’s something you’d all be interested in using in your schools.its an added layer of protection for our precious little ones.

[JI7]

20. Won't do anything to save her

[Olafjoy]

22. I purchased an insert

I purchased a bullet resistant backpack insert for my son when he was 10. It is a little heavy, but not terrible. It made me feel better. He is in college now and refused to take it with him. He texted me last semester when his classroom was on lockdown because of a reported shooter in the building. Was no shooter but I aged 10 years when I looked at my phone and read “Mom don’t freak out but....”.
It is the world we live in.
Children understand what is going on. I talked to my son over and over again about running as far and fast as possible away from anyone with a gun if he was not in a locked classroom. The insert makers suggest telling your child to lift the backpack slightly to protect the head.
In school they practice lockdown drills but they do not practice running away. When you feel she is ready, talk to her about running away. The little ones at Sandy Hook who were lucky enough to take off running when Adam Lanza was reloading lived.
Everyone needs to do what they feel is right. This is what I did.
My sign for the march yesterday had the insert taped to it with “This is a backpack insert to block bullets. WHY is this a thing?” written underneath.

[Lee-Lee]

24. You are letting hype distort your perceptions of risk for your child

As others have pointed out, the odds of her ever being inan school that sees an actual shooting that targets students are incredibly, incredibly low.

There are other places you could spend that money that would go much, much farther toward reducing the risk of harm to her.

Swimming lessons are one.

Heck, given that auto accidents are one of the leading causes of death spending that same money on a helmet and making her wear it in a car would do more to enhance her saety. And if you just thought when you read this “that’s idiotic I would never make her wear a helmet in the car” then you have your answer about how rational it is given the risk level to buy one of those backpack inserts.

If it seems stupid to wear a helmet in the car because you don’t think she’s in enough danger to warrant doing so, when the risk of harm in an auto accident is far far higher than ever being in the same school as a shooting much less actually targeted- well you can see how much your perceptions of actual risk and your emotions on this have been manipulated.

[samnsara]

26. i asked my two grand dtrs..13 and 15 if I could buy them one and...

...they said no they didnt need one. I asked if they felt safe at school and they shrugged and said yep.

[Snackshack]

27. I dont know anything.

About how effective these are if at all. It may not make a difference or it could make all the difference if something ever happened. Hopefully you will never find out either way.

However if getting one gives you even just a small slice of mental peace do it. Although not sure how much mental peace could be had because every time you see it you would be confronted with its purpose.

I don’t have any children...by my heart goes out to all parents and what they have to deal with in today’s society.