Bulletproof backpacks on back-to-school list of many concerned Houston-area parents

Office Depot is selling bulletproof backpacks online, and in stores across the country, including in Houston. Office Depot is selling bulletproof backpacks online, and in stores across the country, including in Houston. Photo: Danny Hermosillo Photo: Danny Hermosillo Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Bulletproof backpacks on back-to-school list of many concerned Houston-area parents 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

As students and their parents are shopping for supplies needed to return to school, an increasing number are adding bulletproof backpacks to their list.

What were once items primarily bought by survivalists and gun enthusiasts are increasingly being purchased by families worried about school shootings.

So far in 2019, there have been 22 incidents at schools nationwide where shots were fired with an intent to attack others, according to everytownresearch.org. Those include incidents at Atascosita High School, Sterling Aviation HS, and Prairie View A&M University, according to the research group.

The same organization claims that an estimated 3 million American children are exposed to shootings per year.

Across the country, office and school supply stores have added bulletproof backpacks to their inventory. A spot check of a Houston-area Office Depot found two different types of bulletproof backpacks in their inventory. Chron.com reached out to Office Depot for comment, but did not get a response.

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Roman Zrazhevskiy with ReadyToGoSurvival.com out of Austin says his website sees a 250-percent increase in sales of bulletproof backpacks when back-to-school time rolls around.

He says his orders primarily come from Florida, California and New York. And his customers are everyday families.

"They're not survivalists at all," Zrazhevskiy told Chron.com. "They are normal upper middle-class, and upper class professionals."

His bulletproof backpacks have a polymer plate which weighs 17.5 ounces that slips inside the pack.

The plate's manufacturer, Gladiator Solution, claims it uses the same technology found in law enforcement products.

"Our plates are tested against the NIJ (National Institute of Justice) standard for Level 3A in an independent NIJ certifying laboratory, and PakProtect exceeded those standards," said Matt Materazo, CEO of Gladiator Solutions, creator of PakProtect.

The (NIJ) told Chron.com that the only ballistic-resistant product that NIJ certifies is law enforcement body armor that meet the requirements of NIJ's Compliance Testing Program (CTP), which are then listed on NIJ's Compliant Products List.

"The National Institute of Justice—the research, development, and evaluation agency of the Department of Justice—has never tested nor certified ballistic items, such as backpacks, blankets, or briefcases, other than body armor for law enforcement," said Kelly Laco, Justice Department spokeswoman. "Marketing that claims NIJ testing or certification for such products is false."

Some have criticized bulletproof bags as giving a false sense of security, since they would only protect about 25-percent of a person using it as a shield.

"25-percent protection is better than no protection at all," Zrazhevskiy rebuts.

Not everyone is able to afford bulletproof backpacks, which can cost up to $150. But more appear willing to pay for the peace of mind, particularly after a report of a school shooting.

"Unfortunately on our business, people are reactionary instead of being proactive," adds Zrazhevskiy.

Danny Hermosillo is the Digital News Editor for Chron.com | Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @Dannyherm1| Email him at Danny.Hermosillo@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message