'Monetizing fear' by bulletproofing schools

As public schools grapple with lagging student literacy, chronic absenteeism, and classrooms without air conditioning, they are now being pitched to bulletproof their school buildings and students.

The reason is obvious – more than 230 school shootings in the last decade and a growing threat of online ideation to shoot teachers and classmates. The solution seems equally obvious – restrict access by minors to firearms and take online threats of violence seriously.

But in a capitalist economy, every tragic occurrence can be a business opportunity. School shootings are no exception.

Firms have been hawking sophisticated sensors to detect guns in backpacks or uninvited intruders with weapons. They are being joined by sellers of bulletproof backpacks, hoodies, and clipboards. There are also bulletproof window shields, classroom desks, whiteboards, and collapsible safe rooms. Some of the products are designed and promoted by parents of schoolchildren.

None of this protection is cheap. For schools already financially strapped to pay teachers, provide school counseling, and upgrade facilities, these purchases will further strain resources.

“Arm us with books, counselors, and resources, not bulletproof vests,” says Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “It is infuriating that rather than having the courage to solve the gun violence problem, we now have to confront the monetizing of fear.”

Avoiding monetization of fear may be too much to hope for in a politically polarized society unable to address responsible gun ownership and an economy where businesses pursue profits rather than plaudits.

Steve Naremore, owner of TuffyPacks, told The Washington Post he sold tens of thousands of ballistic shields for backpacks to parents within a week of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

“People say, ‘Oh, you’re just profiting off the carnage,’ ” Naremore said. “And you know what I say? ‘Look, don’t blame me. I’m just the fire extinguisher manufacturer, OK?’”

Atomic Defense sells backpacks with images of cute puppies and blue dinosaurs that appeal to young potential shooting victims. The backpacks come in different versions – some protect against handguns, while more expensive models claim to protect against assault rifles.

There also are Tank the Turtle backpack inserts, which were designed by a mother of two with military experience and have been sold to thousands of customers. A cynical critic said a backpack with a Captain America shield won’t do much good in a school shooting if it’s hanging on a hook in a schoolroom.

Hardwire sells bulletproof clipboards for teachers with artistic designs of palm leaves, Pink Sunrise and Starry Night. Premier Body Armor makes a bulletproof three-ring binder for students that can unfold into a shield against handgun bullets. Wonder Hoodie claims its sweatshirts will protect “all vital organs” against gunshots. It somewhat confusingly offers free replacements for hoodies that have fended off gun fire.

First Line Furniture pitches schools to buy bulletproof classroom desks, which were designed following the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The Washington Post reported, “They were tested against high-caliber handguns, AR-15s, submachine guns, hand grenades, and .308 sniper rifles. One marketing video shows 18 children behind upright desktops.”

RTS Tactical touts bulletproof portable whiteboards that blend into classroom decor and avoid the appearance of a bunker. The armor panels were originally designed for army recruitment centers.

3M offers clear window laminate that prevents glass from shattering when struck by bullets from a semiautomatic rifle.

KT Security Solutions hawks rapidly accessible, collapsible safe rooms, which it says can double as reading rooms when not used for protection against a shooter. The bulletproof safe room sells for $60,000 per unit. Multiply that by 20 classrooms in a school and you’re talking real money diverted from teaching and learning.

By failing to address the root causes of school shootings, we may leave little choice for public school administrators and parents. It’s too bad no one has thought of bulletproofing air conditioning or library books.

Gary Conkling co-founded CFM Advocates and has worked in various public affairs capacities for more than 40 years to advocate for adequate K-12 school funding in Oregon. He most recently provided strategic communications counsel to Portland Public Schools and Salem-Keizer Public Schools.