Do bulletproof backpacks work?
I stumbled across a promo for this story while watching TV shows the other night.
I try to stay away from local news stations for the most part. I went to the ABC2News Web site for the story and the video.
ABC2News tested out the $175 backpack by having bullets fired into it. The backpack actually worked, although their expert said the backpack “would likely have been useless against the high-powered weapons used in shootings like Columbine and Jonesboro.”
The ABC story suggests that a bundle of books might be an effective way to protect against bullets.
Would you purchase one of these bags for your kids? Do you think that they are effective? (A bulletproof vest at least protects your torso. These bags would only protect the area that is covered.)
I also included this “Art Fennell Reports” segment on the issue.
Categories: Around the Nation, School Safety (Or Lack Thereof)
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
It depends on how much utility the thing had. I wouldn't buy a bag solely for its bulletproof properties.
Posted by: steegness | November 3, 2007 4:45 PM
i don't think that bulletproof backpacks are effective because many of the staff at the school will see the weapon and these backpacks can become targets for shooters. This can apply to Walbrook High School
Posted by: 50GS | November 3, 2007 8:57 PM
It's amazing to me how many people have these "solutions" to many of the problems in our schools. What seems to be interesting is that no one is looking at the causes of the shootings, and what drives a student to the point of inflicting harm on other students. American Public education has changed over time and they way we are educating and interacting with our students has to change as well. If we invested more time in understanding our youth, there would be no demand for bulletproof backpacks.
Posted by: Derrick | November 8, 2007 10:33 PM