$199; Bullet BlockerIn the wake of the horrific Sandy Hook shooting last week in Connecticut, people's responses have varied. From deep profound sadness to outrage to a fierce need to take action, our nation has been shaken in so many ways. For some parents, the reaction is to protect their children at all costs, which for some means sending their kids off with bullet-proof backpacks.
According to ABC, sales of the protective packs have soared since last Friday. Bullet Blocker, a Massachusetts company that makes the typical-looking backpacks with a hidden layer of body armor, says orders started rushing in as soon as news of the shooting broke. The backpacks are meant to be used as shields should a child be in a situation in which gunfire breaks out. Of course, your child has to have his backpack for it to work, so it's not going to help when he's at lunch or sitting at his desk without it. But it's something.
The company's COO said, "When word gets out there is an option, not a complete solution, to protect their kids, parents go and seek it."
I understand. God, do I understand how badly I want to protect my children and how helpless this whole thing has made me feel. But these backpacks ... I want to cry at the very thought of them.
I don't fault anyone for buying one. There's a part of me that would love to send them in full body armor, but I simply could not buy one of these backpacks for my children. I think I would rather we take our chances than to make them live like that. I just can't imagine explaining to my 9-year-old son that this is something I think he needs. Yes, schools may have drills to deal with shootings, and it never hurts to be prepared, but to me this just makes the possibility too real for them and for us.
And yes, it is real. We've seen too many examples to believe that it's not, but there's a big part of me that needs to bury my head in the proverbial sand at least a little. I have to focus on the statistics that say most children are safe at school. I have to reassure my children that they will be okay and try to make myself believe it too. A bullet-proof backpack just destroys that.
This situation has taught me more than ever to never say never because I NEVER could have imagined someone doing something this heartless, this evil. So I can't say with final certainty that I won't ever seek out something like this for my children.
But for now, I want to believe that they're safer than I feel like they are. That our children don't have to go to school as soldiers go to war. That we will make changes in this nation to stop something like this from ever happening again. Because if I don't, then I couldn't possibly let them walk out that door with or without a backpack.
Would you buy a bullet-proof backpack for your children?
Image via Bullet Blocker
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Comments 11
And of course someone/some company is going to profit off this. That's just sickening. In most cases of school shootings these backpacks would have been nowhere near the children being shot. They'd have been tucked away in a locker. Protecting our kids is one thing. Profiting off the chance (and a very small chance at that) of protecting our kids is sick.
It's rediculous.
I wonder how heavy they are?
We can discuss this, but we can't discuss arming the teachers and principals? You're right. These backpacks will do nothing if the shooting takes place when the packs are in the lockers.
If we want to truly protect our children, we need to think about making sure that they are truly defended. A bullet-proof backpack does nothing in a locker. A well-trained and armed teacher will stop a gunman in his tracks.
And of course someone profits! Hell, 2nd ammendment sports in bakersfield,ca profitted off me just a few days ago, when I bought my 9mm. Making money isn't a crime, or detestable.
I do, in fact, want these for my kids. Since people DON'T want to arm teachers, or hire armed guards, yes, I want something. Anything. At the very least I can get my kids into a routine of having it on them durring lunch (our schools don't require them to be left in the class) and to never put it in a locker. Even if its on their chair in class, they can hide behind it.
Any measure is better than NONE.
All our kids should know about the evil in the world, and know that we want them protected as best as we can protect them
Mutts, once again, you make a good point. SOME armor is better than none. Although (injecting some humor) I don't know that my son would need one of these. He's got so much CRAP in his backpack already, I don't think a bullet can pass thru it! ...hmmm...wonder if I can market that?
I'd get one in a heartbeat if they weren't so expensive. I think its a great idea.
And on another note, like I said, most of us teachers would gladly take a bullet for your children, so please do not forget to tell your child's teacher that you appreciate them because we truly love your kids like they're our own. Also, sit your kids down and go over what they are supposed to do in case of an emergency and make sure their school has a plan in place to protect your blessings.