Reading, writing, arithmetic and bullet-proof backpacks? It is the age in which we’re living.
An Israeli firm says it has now sold US customers hundreds of its bullet-proof schoolbags, introduced in the wake of the Parkland school massacre.
“We designed a bullet-proof backpack at the request of our distributors in the United States after the huge trauma caused by the February shooting in Florida,” said Snir Koren, CEO of Masada Armor.
Nikolas Cruz opened fire and killed 17 in his former high school in Parkland, Florida with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle.
In a matter of months protective gear manufacturer Masada Armor, based in the northern Israeli town of Julis, developed its bullet-proof backpack and got it certified by the Israeli army and police.
“Since then, orders from the United States have been coming in,” Koren said.
“In two months we have sold hundreds and are gearing up to increase production rates to 500 units per month.”
The basic model, weighs around six pounds, protects against 9mm pistol fire and sells for $500.
An improved version is designed to give protection against high velocity rifles such as the AR-15 and the M-16 and Kalashnikov assault rifles and will sell for more than $700.
Koren says that while his bags are suitable for college students, they are too heavy for younger pupils.
“We are developing a lighter model for their type of morphology,” he said.