Backpacks, binders, pencil pouches, clipboards, hoodies, desks and whiteboards. What do all these items have in common? All of them now come in a bulletproof option.
With the rollout of back-to-school supplies, it seems like more and more companies are less focused on the visual appeal of their supplies to shoppers, instead, it seems their main focus is telling their consumers how well their items will protect their children in the event of a school shooting.
As of Sept. 19 there have been 50 school shootings in the U.S. this year alone. These attacks have not only left people injured but have taken lives and left communities in shambles. Over 383,000 students have experienced gun violence at school in the last 25 years.
For American youth, gun violence remains the number one cause of death for adolescents are firearms.
The frequency of school shootings in America has left many parents looking for options that can liken their child’s chance of survival in case of a school shooting. The answer to this call has been the release of bulletproof school supplies.
The company Atomic Defense’s line of backpacks not only claim to give protection from a large variety of guns, but also boasts 14 design options. Another company, Hardwire, that sells other bulletproof supplies has the tagline “don’t worry, be happy with this extra slice of paradise themed protection in hand” for a clipboard. Many of these bulletproof supplies can run people upwards of hundreds of dollars. A simple pencil case could go for $185. For many parents, it’s a small price to pay to make sure their kid can make it through the school day unharmed, but it’s a price that shouldn’t have to be paid.
Students shouldn’t have to go to school in tactical gear disguised as school supplies. Students shouldn’t have to rely on their backpacks to save them from a bullet. Students shouldn’t have to live in fear at a place where they should be and feel safe. Students shouldn’t have to ‘be prepared’ for a school shooting.
The expectation should be not allowing these school shootings to happen in the first place.
Many Americans share this sentiment as a report by the Pew Research Center found that around 61% of Americans agree on stricter gun control. Whether it be better resources for mental health or tightening the requirements for obtaining a gun, the majority of Americans are in favor of gun laws.
On top of that, there are many outreach groups that are pushing for strict gun laws in the form of protest. March for Our Lives, a pro-gun control advocate campaign founded after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, states “we demand a world free of gun violence.” Ever since their founding they have led protests and marches all across the country to fight for harsher gun laws. Yet, this outcry consistently gets ignored by politicians.
Too often our politicians give their “thoughts and prayers” to those affected by school shootings rather than actually do something about the epidemic plaguing schools. The lack of effort put in by our own government has led to so many feeling helpless when it comes to school shootings.
It feels as if we are abandoning our youth and leaving them to fend for themselves with nothing but a backpack to keep them safe.
