Back-to-school shopping? Don't forget the bulletproof backpacks

Sending your kid off to school these days isn't what it used to be -- at least that's what one company called MJ Safety Solutions would have you believe -- because they're selling a bulletproof backpack. That's right, two worried parents in Boston have created "My Child's Pack," a $175 bulletproof book-bag that will stop an assortment of bullets (including hollow-point 9mm) dead in their tracks. The two inventors feel this will provide a simple solution for parents hoping to protect children from school shootings and gun violence. As sensitive creator Joe Curran says, "I don't care what you do -- if you want to fight the good fight or fix the world's hurts, I can't help you, but my kids are going to be safe because of these backpacks." Which might be true, if crazed shooters are only aiming at people's backs. Check out the "special report" video on the bags after the break.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[chi @ Aug 16th 2007 3:22AM]

Waste of money. When I went to school my backpack was already bulletproof.. bullets couldn't penetrate the 5 textbooks that I had to carry around in there.

[Oxyhydro @ Aug 16th 2007 3:42AM]

My 64 MM hollow point super-ballistic nitro tipped bullets say otherwise...

[Owen V @ Aug 16th 2007 3:48AM]

sadly, now those 5 books would cost $700, makes the backpack look like a good deal.

[BananaBoat @ Aug 16th 2007 4:11AM]

Oh sure, it'll stop the bullet, but it'll also break your kids back from the weight of it + books. Then if he gets shot, it'll break his back from the impact (just like how cops get broken ribs when they are hit in their vests). What a dumb idea. Anyone who buys it, deserves to be ripped off

[abelIAN @ Aug 16th 2007 4:19AM]

You'd most likely only break your back if you were shot very close to your spine, and even then, I'd much rather risk paralysis then death (from the bullet passing the heart or lungs).

[abelIAN @ Aug 16th 2007 4:22AM]

*than

[Garst @ Aug 16th 2007 4:28AM]

I think the inventors had the intention of hold the bag in front of you and use it like a shield than having it on the kid's back as they run away. Also, I think their thinking was that their kid wasn't the target of the gun, because if they were the target, the shooter would keep shooting until the kid is dead or out of bullets.

[abelIAN @ Aug 16th 2007 4:13AM]

"Which might be true, if crazed shooters are only aiming at people's backs."

Which might be true, if backpacks were impossible to take off your back.

These backpacks are a good idea, even if most people buying them will never find actual use for them. What isn't a good idea is spreading FUD when there is no place for it. This case might very well be an example of unnecessary FUD, but I don't think most of the nay-sayers that will comment here are fit to make that judgment. Of course, prove me wrong.

[CapnVan @ Aug 16th 2007 8:49AM]

These backpacks *aren't* a good idea. Wasting money on something that almost certainly will never be used isn't a good thing. That's a *bad* thing. This is as ridiculously ineffective as taping your windows with plastic wrap just in case someone releases some sort of NBC device.

Among other things, statistics have proved that since 1993, the number of people killed in school shootings has, in fact, declined. More to the point, since the early 90's, when the U.S. government began keeping track of the numbers, the odds of a child being killed in school have consistently remained at, or worse than, 1 in 2 million.

When we waste money on something that is useless, that has an effect. When peddlers prey on a media-fed fear, that has a negative effect.

[Robotochan @ Aug 16th 2007 4:47AM]

In London there is a company that modifies school uniforms by inserting a liner of kevlar due to the recent sudden increase in knife attacks. Costs about the same as one of those bags but if I were a parent I'd move somewhere safer...

[chezzo @ Aug 16th 2007 4:51AM]

Yep, they were on the BBC website a couple of days back.
The company also make kevlar-lined hoodies :D

[Chris Macdonald @ Aug 16th 2007 8:02AM]

Holy crap kevlar lined hoodies!! that is GANGSTA (@chezzo)

[Deluxe @ Aug 16th 2007 4:58AM]

Bow before your fear machine, pittiful mortals!

[ssuk @ Aug 16th 2007 5:13AM]

In the UK schools are putting Kevlar into school uniforms. I shit you not.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6945814.stm

[ssuk @ Aug 16th 2007 5:14AM]

oh shit, was already posted... Oh well, at least you have some source material now. =)

[jonto81 @ Aug 16th 2007 5:40AM]

I don't understand The whole putting Kevlar into School uniforms because of knife attacks.

Kevlar stops bullets through thousnads and millions of micro fine strands woven together which break transfering the kenitic energy out of the bullet hence slowing and reducing the impact. If you stab a purely kevlar shirt with a knife it will pass through it no problem

[rickane58 @ Aug 16th 2007 6:46AM]

also, these items fail to have the ceramic plates that are another, albeit heavy, part of the equation

[tiuk @ Aug 16th 2007 11:27AM]

Glad someone else knows kevlar won't prevent stabbings.

Here's an interesting article about a boy who claims his kevlar hoodie saved him from a knife attack. It seems he was being slashed at, though:

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=QO1240784I&news_headline=kevlar_hoodie_saves_youth_from_knife_muggers

The article refers to the hoodie as "stab proof", though, which is simply untrue.

[Nige @ Aug 16th 2007 5:50AM]

I'll confess I'm not a kid anymore, but it wasn't ages ago that I was, so I think I have a reasonable grasp of teenage mentality. If I remember rightly it goes something like this:

Kid1: Hey, X has a new bullet-proof backpack.
Kid2: Wow, lets all try and get hold of a gun and shoot it for laughs.

No problem with that at all...

[Bob @ Aug 16th 2007 3:53PM]

Damn straight. I am in college and my friend was touting how strong his Nalgene bottle was, that it was indestructible.

Didn't take loge to fill it with water, freeze it, and take an AR-15 to it. That thing shattered like no other. It was beautiful.

[Vincent @ Aug 16th 2007 6:49AM]

"(including hollow-point 9mm)"

Hollow-points don't penetrate for crap in the first place, they're designed to expand rapidly for the largest damage area, not most penetration. They mushroom much faster than any other bullet style. I'd be more concerned with FMJ or Tungsten-tipped AP rounds.. which this backpack will NOT stop (the Tungsten, anyway) those go through 12 bullet proof vests lined up in front of each other.

[HineyWipe @ Aug 16th 2007 11:15AM]

So, a .22 should do the trick.

[teck90 @ Aug 16th 2007 6:54AM]

What a sad fucking commentary on our society that someone felt the need to come up with this instead of addressing the real issues.

[Twitchy @ Aug 16th 2007 8:08AM]

That's the typical 'treat the symptoms not the cause' approach that has been adopted. Probably because a quick fix solution is easier (although only short term).

Regarding those that attack the usefulness of a bulletproof backpack - I wonder how many victims of school shootings were fatally wounded through the back as they ran away? And some protection is better than none, or would you drive without a seat-belt?

[scruz @ Aug 16th 2007 12:46PM]

What real issues? How do you fix some wacked out kid that is bent on killing people for any number of different reasons.

[Service_Games @ Aug 16th 2007 8:53AM]

Honestly not trying to sound morbid here, but a 9mm hollowpoint isn't really that difficult to stop per se. Hollowpoints are designed so that they will enter a person but not come out so that there is no collateral damage caused. Essentially, while it can and probably will cause mortal damage to the human body, hollowpoint stops aren't really that reassuring. If it could stop a .40 full metal jacket bullet, then I'd be much more impressed. Plus, w/out any kind of shock absorbing plate, the force of a bullet fired at close enough range (even if it is stopped by a bullet proof backpack) could be enough to kill someone. These backpacks really don't seem to add all that much safety.

SG

[andy @ Aug 16th 2007 9:53AM]

FMJ's are indeed the bigger problem, but a .40 actually has a lower ballastics coefficient than a 9mm. The 9mm has more velocity and a smaller surface area than a .40.


Also; to the guy talking about cermic plates:

You only need ceramic plates for rounds that are much higher on the ballistics scale. That is, rifle rounds, and not just small ones. The military uses ceramic plates, but police don't because of the threats they face. Kevlar vests alone stop all handgun rounds, and some rifle rounds (up to a .223). The military is normally faced with AK-47 fire which is a 7.62mm rifle round usualy interchangable with a .308 winchester. This is a high mass, small contact area, FMJ, very high velocity round; if you don't have a ceramic plate in your vest, you might as well save the hassle and not put it on. (or like gunners, use so much kevlar that you walk around like one of the self defense trainer guys in the red suits)

[Bill @ Feb 15th 2008 3:46PM]

These are interesting points of view. It sounds like you are saying that a product like this isn't even worthwhile because it won't stop 40 caliber or full metal jacket rounds. It also sounds like you're saying that without a shock plate the blunt force trauma may kill you so why use anything at all.
While these are intelligent observations, they may not be accurate. According to body armor manufacturers the most popular vests sold to police officers for daily use are Level 2 or the lesser protective 2a. I guess those guys figure it's worth stopping bullets from penetrating their bodies even if they aren't full metal jacket rounds. I bet a 38 caliber lead bullet can still kill someone.
The blunt trauma must cause some injury and, yes, possibly even death, although there have been very few documented cases of death in law enforcement. I have to say, though, and again this is supported by the common practice of police wearing armor without the steel or ceramic shock plate, that I would rather take the chance and avoid a penetrating bullet wound and spend time recovering from the blunt trauma.
The good news is that the guys at www.mjsafetysolutions.com have just passed Level 3a testing. That means that the backpacks will stop full metal jackets and .44magnum.

[darkstar @ Aug 16th 2007 9:07AM]

um... this looks nerdy
i'ld look a lot cooler with bulletproof vests. 50cents and his crew always have vests on them.

[Mojo_Yugen @ Aug 16th 2007 9:16AM]

Wow, great way to spread fear AND make money at the same time. There's a special place in hell for the people selling these.

[CB @ Aug 16th 2007 9:20AM]

To quote Dumb & Dumber, "What if they shot you in the face?"

[KR @ Aug 16th 2007 9:21AM]

"Hey Harry, what if he shot you in the face?"

"Yeah, what if he shot me in the face?!"

"That's a risk we were willing to take."

[KR @ Aug 16th 2007 9:22AM]

Apparently, great minds think alike and have similar timing...

[andy @ Aug 16th 2007 9:55AM]

Kevlar is a synthetic fiber made in bulk these days. I have soccer shin guards backed in kevlar. They were cheaper than some of the others without kevlar.


These backpacks don't cost hardly any more to make than a good nylon based daypack/rucksack.


You're right though, they'll probably be a premium price for those who buy into the fear factor.

[JBo @ Aug 16th 2007 11:17AM]

I guess all things being equal these would be worth getting. But let's be honest here, even if there were ten Columbines or Virginia Tech's a year, the chances of your child being killed at school are still virtually nil. They are more at risk breathing the air in most cities than they are being gunned down by a crazed emo. But I keep forgetting, our fearless leader has instructed us all to be afraid. So be afraid! Be very afraid!!

[tiuk @ Aug 16th 2007 11:22AM]

Wow, not one comment about paranoid Boston residents? Congratulations, internet.

[Jake @ Aug 16th 2007 11:46AM]

I don't know if this is really necessary or not for most people... but it could be handy for some. I often take two strips of level II armor out of my old vest carrier and put it in the the rear section of my big CamelBak pack (the part made for the water tank). It's not heavy at all and the combined layers give me at least IIIA protection in a pinch. I did this for traveling through less-than-favorable areas of countries in South & Central America... but I guess it'd be handy for running away from a crazy shooter too. Oh, and there are places where you can buy old vests to do this to your own backpack for less than $150 if you don't like the looks of these packs.

[OddManOut @ Aug 16th 2007 12:30PM]

Hmm...Kevlar backpack ? Doesn't exposure to the sun (or water for that matter...both of which high schoolers are likely to expose their backpacks to) break down kevlar and reduce it's effectiveness at stopping bullets pretty quickly ?

This comment thread is a nice improvement over the "Heroic bullet stopping iPod' post. Nice to see people are doing a little research here and there :)

Yeah, I guess some protection is better than none, but if I was going to design a backpack to protect MY kids I think I'd us the ceramic plate, and not the kevlar. I always used to pack my binder so it would make the part og my bag that my back contacted flat and uniform...none of the objects inside jabbing me a whatnot. Why not just integrate a ceramic plate in there instead ? Then you really could use it as a shield, and it would be effective against handgun AND rifle rounds and even be more comfortable to boot.

[KC @ Aug 16th 2007 1:08PM]

Once sales start to drop, they can incorporate GPS and a rape alarm in the next model to protect kids from all those virtually non-existent strangers waiting in the bushes to abduct them.

Once that one starts to slow in sales, just through in a free gun for your little darlings to carry so they can not only protect themselves but also enact some good old vigilante justice to.

'Cause the best way to prevent some random school shooter from being able to take out a bunch of people with their gun is to make sure all the kids have guns!

I see a long a and prosperous future for this company

[mastershake3 @ Aug 16th 2007 1:14PM]

these actually aren't that new. Those in uniform know what I mean. They make ballastic brief cases that you can use as a shield while escaoing a threat. These are by no means a solution, but they could help your kid, or your brave teacher that is holding the door shut. Personally I'd prefer armed responsible people. As for the people making these, it's a free country, they can do what they want, they aren't creating fear, the media does, but only because we all watch when they do.

[Daniel Spiegelman @ Aug 16th 2007 1:37PM]

so it cant play doom?

[Juaquin @ Aug 16th 2007 2:36PM]

Talk about taking advantage of people's fear. Let's set up a typical school shooting. Kid walks in with a 9mm handgun, bent on shooting anyone he can. Let's say that the potential victim hears/sees the gunman coming and has time to whip his backpack off in time and use it to shield himself. Ok, assuming that happens (unlikely), it will most likely piss off the shooter. He's bent on killing people, remember? How do you think he'll feel when he sees that he hasn't succeeded? The only kid left in the room, protected by his backpack - the shooter would probably just keep shooting until he kills him. It's doubtful that he'd just let the victim go, or that the victim could somehow escape.

Being a student myself I think this is just plain stupid. I'm not going to live my life in fear of what could happen, especially considering how low the odds are. I probably have a better chance of being struck by lighting, but I don't walk around with a huge grounded, isolated pole do I?

[Alan @ Aug 16th 2007 3:53PM]

Why not try to fix the source of the problem, rather than make a backpack?

[Ian H. @ Aug 17th 2007 1:26AM]

5 million school-aged kids in the US, and how many of them are killed by school shootings in a given year? Give me a break. Statistically, these students are more likely to be shot by their parents than by a classmate.

[JC @ Aug 17th 2007 1:58AM]

Great, now this has just given kids who 'can' get a gun to test it on those with these backpacks.

[jeff chan @ Aug 17th 2007 1:58AM]

Great, now this has just given kids who 'can' get a gun to test it on those with these backpacks.

[Z @ Aug 17th 2007 3:51AM]

The most obvious thing to me is, if, as a parent, you feel this thing is necessary for your kids, then you need to pull them out of that school immediately and find another one for them to attend.

The whole thing seems a bit over the top. And naturally, another obvious thing to consider is that this would only protect the back when worn and nothing more, which of course, means that a shooter has about a hundred other places to shoot someone and maybe cause them to bleed to death, including the entire front and sides of the body, the entire head and neck, and legs and arms where major arteries are found.

Hardly effective.

Here's a better solution: Try home schooling. The end.

[weg @ Aug 17th 2007 11:07AM]

This might become a bestseller in the UK..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Charles_de_Menezes

Even though wearing a backpack somewhat increases the probability that you get shot, there.

[alexc @ Aug 17th 2007 12:46PM]

When are they going to make a car proof backpack? Im sure that more kids are killed crossing the road every year then by school shootings.

[Joe @ Aug 19th 2007 3:32PM]

These backpacks are not made with Kevlar, and are not effected by sun or water. NIJ threat level II stops almost all handgun rounds - go to the NIJ site for a full list. The weight is only 20 ounces extra - the weight of a bottle of water. If books stop bullets, wouldn't poilce walk around with books taped to there bodies? We teach our kids not to talk to strangers - isn't that fear? More people are killed by guns than lightning, yet I bet you tell your kids not to stand under a tree during a thunder storm.... statisticly, the chance of getting struck by lightning is nil, yet...