Fathers Create Bulletproof Backpacks – News Story – WCVB Boston

Fathers Create Bulletproof Backpacks – News Story – WCVB Boston

Bulletproof backbacks seem like overkill to me. The chances of your child dying in a school shooting are one in two million.

To put that in to perspective, see the following ways to die in the next year, and their odds:

Transportation Related:

Pedestrian – 1 in 48,548

Riding a Motorcycle – 1 in 79,121

Car Occupant – 1 in 18,412

Bus Occupant – 1 in 8,079,167 <—Very significant difference over Car Occupant, hence my stance on bus transportation.

Non-Transport (Accidental)

Falling on same level (tripping, slipping, etc.) 1 in 487,186

Fall involving stairs or steps – 1 in 183,155

Accidental Drowning – 1 in 87,976

Accidental Drowning in your bathtub – 1 in 876,054

Accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed – 1 in 585,211

Choking – 1 in 332,400

Accidental alcohol related – 1 in 779,759

Intentional

Intentional self harm by firearm – 1 in 17,203

Assault by firearm in all situations (not just in school) – 1 in 24,400

In Reality

As a whole, our society spends most of its time in fear of something, and usually many things. Fear of speaking in front of people, fear of a car accident, fear of a child’s death, fear of drowning, fear of different races of people, etc. All of this fear creates a certain amount of anxiety for things that have not happened yet. It separates us from making rational decisions as individuals, as well as groups.

Of course, if it makes you feel better to purchase a bullet-proof backback for your child, then that is obviously a personal choice. However, I would make the argument that you are doing more damage for your child’s long-term mental health by doing so. Living in a constant state of fear is no way to live at all, especially in a public school system that is one of the safest places to be at any given time for your child.