GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Among the school supplies on many parents list this year is bulletproof backpacks.
They’re sold online at stores like Amazon and even Office Depot and Wal-Mart.
“The backpack is made with a Polyethylene material,” said Yasir Sheikh, President of the Guard Dog brand of Bulletproof Backpacks.
“This is a lightweight durable material that allows for it to integrate into the backpack seamlessly.”
Sheikh tells FOX 11 the backpacks are lightweight and designed to be used daily.
“The backpack is rated level III-A.”
On a chart of ballistic protection levels, III-A is categorized as sub-machine gun velocity- which includes pistols and some rifles.
Green Bay Police Captain Jeremy Muraski tells FOX they’re an interesting idea in theory.
“A lot of the active shooter scenarios we’re seeing around the country, unfortunately, we’re seeing rifles. So most of those backpacks wouldn’t stop the rounds the students would be facing. I think it builds a false sense of security.”
Muraski says there’s only one thing that can combat an active shooter.
“The only real way to guarantee that you can stop this threat is having something that can counteract it.”
Although some had never heard of the bulletproof backpacks, they still weren’t opposed to them.
“I would say it’s something to consider at least weigh the options,” said Ryan Brinkman visiting from Dyersville, Ohio.
“Knowing that so many schools were built at different times what plan might work for one building might not work for another building, in terms of emergency plan,” said Milwaukee mother of two, Lara Vance.
“So having something like that in place would be a good measure to have.”
Although her son is only nine, Vance says she still wants to be cautious after events like the shooting in Parkland last year.
A representative of Green Bay Public Schools said the idea of bullet-proof backpacks was not brought up during the district’s recent public sessions about safety in schools.
Captain Muraski said the backpacks run for about $200, but each parent could contribute to having a retired police officer in schools, like Chief Andrew Smith proposed, which he believes is safer.
