Bulletproof shields developed at New Mexico State University
In the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, more and more parents are buying their children bullet-proof backpacks.
In different parts of the country, companies that sell the product say they’re now flying off the shelves – but they can be pricey. Depending on the brand and strength, the bags can range anywhere from $100 to even $400.
It turns out, a similar product currently being sold across the country was developed at New Mexico State University.
The product is not a bullet-proof backpack, but rather a bullet-proof and stab-proof shield that can be slid into a backpack.
Dr. Roy Xu created it. If it looks familiar, that’s because the Las Cruces Public School District bought some of the shields last year for their security guards to use. The shields can be worn over your body, over your head or slid into a backpack. They cost about $100 and are sold on Amazon and Ebay.
Xu had a very personal reason for developing the technology. It started when he visited his son’s school in El Paso. “I entered the school and no one stopped me to ask what I was doing at the school,” Xu said. “I could go to the school and shoot. That happened right after the Sandy Hook massacre, so certainly, as a father, I decided to develop something new for student protection.”
A mother ABC-7 spoke with said she would consider buying one of the shields. “It would make me feel more secure or confident that they’re safe at school,” she said, “If it would ensure my child’s safety – absolutely. I think it’s too bad that we have to discuss this.”
