Bullet-proof backpacks for kids selling like hotcakes

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I have two issues with a backpack like this.

1) It's kind of overkill to buy a bullet proof backpack on the slim chance that a school shooting would happen in your child's school, combine that with the limited effectiveness of a product like this, and I'd say that the increase in safety to your child is negligable at best.

2) I could see some kid with this thin thinking he is invulnerable, and should a situation occur, getting injured because he thought he was more protected than he actually was.

All in all, a goofy product that is incredibly unlikey to save even a single life.

Then it will fail, the manufacturer will go bankrupt and the product will go the way of the home-built shelter kits of the 1960's.

Also another reason to love free enterprise and America.

Cowperson

[J pold]

I wonder what kind of lawsuit these guys would face if someone who had one did end up getting shot, or worse killed

[RougeUnderoos]

"We just want to give our kids a little bit of peace of mind when they're in school that if something does happen they have a proactive defensive action they can take."

I love that line. Nothing says "peace of mind" like a bulletproof backpack.

"Thanks dad. Now when the bad men come I'll have this little plastic in my bag to protect me from the bullets. Can you leave the light on"?

[Flash Walken]

Tin Soldiers and Nixon Comin'...

Was the irony lost on anyone else here?

[JayP]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

"We just want to give our kids a little bit of peace of mind when they're in school that if something does happen they have a proactive defensive action they can take."

I love that line. Nothing says "peace of mind" like a bulletproof backpack.

I guess schools should just abandon metal detectors too since it doesn't give students peace of mind either.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by JayP

I guess schools should just abandon metal detectors too since it doesn't give students peace of mind either.

Metal detectors actually do something constructive.

Your dad telling you that you need protection from bullets in school and fitting you up with a backpack like this doesn't do anything constructive and is just fearmongering nonsense. That little panel isn't going to save anybody.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Burninator

What about instilling needless fear into the kids? How do you explain to them that they are not in danger of getting shot when you send them to school with a back covered in Kevlar? As if the first day wasn't nerve racking enough on them.

Umm, kids already know that there are shootings at schools. I would imagine that they are already pretty scared. I would explain it to my child the same way I would explain why they have life boats on BC ferries. Something like this "now, it is very unlikely that this ferry is going to sink, but it has happened before and it will probably happen again. That's why these life boats are on the vessel. We probably won't need them, but if we do, they are available".

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Then it will fail, the manufacturer will go bankrupt and the product will go the way of the home-built shelter kits of the 1960's.

Also another reason to love free enterprise and America.

Cowperson

Oh I have no problem with them selling them, they have every right to go ahead and make a buck off of people's irrational fear, and the false sense of security this will give them.
And as you gave a great example of, this is by no means a strategy limited to this generation, people have been selling things like this forever.
But there's no way I'd buy one for my kid.

[Flashpoint]

I like it! Where's the downside? Other than price I mean. I think it is kind of cool to have a bulletproof backpack. Sort of like junior James Bond!

Of course, the downside is that the school shootings are normally perpetrated by school kids. So now they not only have automatic weapons and pipe bombs, they also have body armor.

But, I might just get one at half the price.

I live in Texas after all...

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

2) I could see some kid with this thin thinking he is invulnerable, and should a situation occur, getting injured because he thought he was more protected than he actually was.

All in all, a goofy product that is incredibly unlikey to save even a single life.

I can actually see it doing the opposite. The fact is in American schools many students carry guns. And I can see some 9 year olds deciding they need to "try out" this bullet proof backpack.

I say this because if I had access to anything bullet proof when I was 9, the first thing I would do is try and find a gun to try it out myself.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I can actually see it doing the opposite. The fact is in American schools many students carry guns. And I can see some 9 year olds deciding they need to "try out" this bullet proof backpack.

I say this because if I had access to anything bullet proof when I was 9, the first thing I would do is try and find a gun to try it out myself.

I 100% agree, but I didn't want to bring it up, mostly becasue i think one can adequately discount this product based on the somewhat questionable premise that it will be effective in saving children from school shooters. Brining up the "Kids will probably try to shoot their buddies to see if it works" arguement, is a bit of a reach, but not entirely out of the question, although I think that speaks more to the problems of having 9 year olds who aren't able to understand the proper use of a gun, having one themselves.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I can actually see it doing the opposite. The fact is in American schools many students carry guns. And I can see some 9 year olds deciding they need to "try out" this bullet proof backpack.

I say this because if I had access to anything bullet proof when I was 9, the first thing I would do is try and find a gun to try it out myself.

Yup, you tell a kid that their backpack is "bulletproof" and what's most likely going to happen? Him and a bunch of their buddies are gonna try testing it out with daddy's gun. It's just natural for kids to be curious.

The bullet might not kill them, but the foot lbs of force from the bullet when it hits the body probably will. Most people don't realize that a lot of times, it's not the bullet going into the body that kills the person, its the amount of force when the bullet makes contact.

People watch movies and see people wearing bullet proof vests take bullets and just get right back up and think, wow, all I have to do is wear on of those and guns won't hurt me. In reality, that doesn't happen, as the person wearing the bullet proof vest is probably bleeding internally, and you can't just get back up from that. It would be like someone taking a sledgehammer to your chest.

[lifer]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

I 100% agree, but I didn't want to bring it up, mostly becasue i think one can adequately discount this product based on the somewhat questionable premise that it will be effective in saving children from school shooters. Brining up the "Kids will probably try to shoot their buddies to see if it works" arguement, is a bit of a reach, but not entirely out of the question, although I think that speaks more to the problems of having 9 year olds who aren't able to understand the proper use of a gun, having one themselves.

Honestly, kids trying to test them out is the only good reason anybody has stated here for the negativity that is being demonstrated towards this back pack. I mean, seriously...a bullet proof barrier between a body and a gun will save a hell of a lot more lives than t-shirts, sweaters and jackets.
I just can't understand the attitude of many of the posters in this thread. There are lots of rare diseases that your child isn't likely to get; is a vaccination fear mongering?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Burninator

What about instilling needless fear into the kids? How do you explain to them that they are not in danger of getting shot when you send them to school with a back covered in Kevlar? As if the first day wasn't nerve racking enough on them.

Excellent point!