Yahoo News Miami school sells bulletproof backpacks to students to protect them against a mass shooting
A school in the United States has started selling bulletproof panels for backpacks so students can be better protected in case of a mass shooting.
The Florida Christian School in Miami has put up the £90 panels on their website in order to give pupils “another level of protection in the event of an active shooter”.
The news of the panels comes just days after gunman Devin Kelley killed 26 people at the First Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas.
George Gulla, head of security at the school, described the panels as a “tool”.
He told the Miami Herald: “I’d rather be prepared for the worst than be stuck after saying ‘Wow, I wish we would’ve done that.’
“We thought, yeah, let’s offer it to anyone who wants it. It’s not required. But it gives you extra peace of mind.”
He added: “It’s out of the norm, but what is the norm?”
The school encourages children to wear their backpacks on their chest for maximum protection.
MORE: Teenager, 19, convicted of trying to import explosive from dark web – that police replaced with dummy device
MORE: Brexit ‘pledge’ of £350m for the health service must be honoured, says NHS chief
Parent Alex Cejas, who runs a body armour company, began putting the panels in his children’s backpacks when they started school.
He argued: “While books and stuff in your backpack may stop a bullet, they’re not designed to. I wouldn’t bet my life on it.”
The private school also has security guards patrolling the gates to ensure student safety.
