Pencil case? Check. Trapper Keeper? Check. Bullet (and knife) proof Ballistic Bookbag? Check. Created by Joe Curran and Mike Pelonzi, these backpacks are designed to stop an assortment of bullets, including 9-millimeter hollow points.
This bag comes in two versions. At left, the MJBackpack. Like many bags, it comes with a computer sleeve, outside pocket for an MP3 player, and insulated bottle pocket. Inside, it features a lightweight ballistic panel, similar to those worn by police officers, but light enough to keep the bag easy for a child to carry.
A second version of the ballistic bookbag has similar features, but slightly different styling. Each are $175.00.
They are both designed to protect the torso from behind while being worn. In case of emergency, kids can also swing the bag in front of them and slide their arms through the shoulder straps, using their bag to shield their chest and stomach from either bullets or a knife, creating a field version of a bulletproof vest.
Its scary that we live in a world where Kevlar makes the back-to-school shopping list, but as creators Joe and Mike, both fathers themselves, point out, what is the one thing kids always have with them? Their bookbags. So why not enmesh a potentially life-saving feature into them? And while this may seem over the top to some, consider that there are children in America who drop out of school because it is safer to be uneducated than to cross through gang territory on their way to school.
What do you think? Would you consider one of these for your child...or yourself?
I don't know the answer to this but, by producing and/or purchasing a product like this doesn't it imply that we are just to accepting the status quo? And, consequently, working a little less hard to change the circumstances that create environments where a kevlar book bag is needed?
view Maryja's profile
I doubt the kids that have to walk through dangerous gang territory can afford a $175 backpack. I'm a college grad working full time and I know I can't... just sayin.
view pdxcarrie's profile
This scares me!
view polkadot's profile
I'm with pdxcarrie on this one.
view bluestar's profile
Apparently if you just carried books in a regular backpack, they'd stop bullets with similar efficiency.
I think they're aiming not for the "dangerous gang territory" demographic, but for the "prone to experience school shootings" demographic. I think the creators of this product were inspired by the shootings at West Virginia and Columbine.
view sciencegeek's profile
"prone to experience school shooting"... I have to say that since Columbine and the other incidents the school I teach in has done the following: banned backpacks during the school day - all must be stowed in lockers, installed: cameras, self locking entrance doors so everyone must be buzzed in once the day begins, we practice lock down drills should an intruder be detected, etc. AND I live and work in small town mid-western American. What a way to teach children that even a school is no longer safe. A ballistic backpack will be of NO USE in most school situations.
view Alice's profile
I live in West Philly. Things are very bad in the schools here, but no one seems to have any solutions to the problems. Things are very bad outside the school and again, no one seems to have any solutions to the problems.
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/special/violence/
Will give you an overview of the current state of affairs.
These backpacks aren't going to solve anything where I live, no matter how much they cost.
view sciencegeek's profile
What a sad, sad world we live in. :*(
view Smellyann's profile