Campus Shootings Changes Back-to-School Shopping

Campus Shootings Change Back-to-School Shopping

Parents are finding themselves purchasing bulletproof items for their children to take to school with them.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jul 27, 2018

Back-to-school shopping is not just for pencils, paper and tissues anymore. New bulletproof items purchased by parents to give their children to take to school with them is a sobering reminder that students are no longer preparing for academic subjects but for potential violence on campus.

Gun violence on campuses like Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Santa Fe High School are changing the way parents are shopping for school supplies. Many parents have found it necessary to purchase items such as bulletproof panels and backpacks to protect their children at school.

One of the items that was circulated after the shootings in Florida and Texas was a bulletproof panel that students can insert in the backpack they already have. These panels have been making the rounds on social media. In a tweet, one teacher expressed her surprise seeing one of these panels in a preschooler's backpack.

"Seeing this broke my heart," the teacher who identifies herself as "Gaia" said on Twitter.

While the panels are a popular buy, parents are also turning towards bulletproof backpack options. For example, a pink bulletproof backpack called, "BulletBlocker NIJ IIIA Bulletproof My Child's Pack" is sold out online as of the middle of July. The backpack retails for $199.

A shopping mall in McAllen, Texas is also selling bulletproof backpacks to parents who have been affected by the events at Santa Fe High School. These backpacks fold out in order to protect the students entire body and are classified as "anti-ballistic school backpack for children."

"This is beyond depressing," Twitter user Sam Hooper said.

The move to buy bulletproof school supplies comes after the PDK Poll concluded the majority parents fear to send their children to school and are not confident in their school's security and safety.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Security Industry Embraces Mobile Credentials, Biometrics and AI, New Trends Report From HID Finds

    As organizations navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape, security leaders are making strategic shifts toward unified platforms and emerging technologies, according to the newly released 2025 State of Security and Identity Report from HID. The comprehensive study gathered responses from 1,800 partners, end users, and security and IT personnel worldwide, and reveals a significant transformation in how businesses are approaching security, with mobile credentials and artificial intelligence emerging as key drivers of innovation. Read Now

  • UK’s NHS Hospital Transforms Security with Edge-processing Camera System

    i-PRO Co., Ltd.,(formerly Panasonic Security), a manufacturer of edge computing cameras for security and public safety, recently announced that a leading teaching hospital in Northeast England, has enhanced its security infrastructure with i-PRO X-Series cameras integrated with Milestone’s XProtect Video Management Software (VMS). Read Now

  • Gun Violence Report Finds Retail Spaces, K-12 Schools Most Targeted

    ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the release of its annual Gun Violence Report, offering a deep dive into the landscape of gun-related incidents across the United States. This analysis extends beyond mass fatality events, providing a more nuanced understanding of when, where, and why shootings occur. Read Now

  • Agentic AI Will Revolutionize Cybercrime in 2025 According to New Report

    Malwarebytes, a provider in real-time cyber protection, recently released its 2025 State of Malware report, which reveals insight into the emergence of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), plus the year’s most prominent threats and cybercrime tactics. The report details a significant uptick in the number of known ransomware attacks, the total value of ransoms paid in 2024, and how IT teams can address them. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.