There are so many things in life that are obviously objective, but the one thing we can all agree on (I hope) is that our children are our future and must be protected. Even as a body armor manufacturer, we truly wish we lived in a world that didn’t need our services.
After the most recent shooting in New York City with school children being targeted on a train to school, we’ve received many questions about how to protect your children with modern ballistic protection.
We currently have 4 products for children and small adults can wear to protect themselves against modern ballistics.
The BallisticBoard® IIIA Soft Insert/Hard Insert, Level IIIA Clipboard, and children can carry the BallisticBoard® Level III Backpack Insert to drastically improve their chances of survival against bullets.
Gun Violence In America
It’s no secret that gun violence in our nation is at an alarming trend, reaching numbers of victims that most of us thought would never be reached
in our homeland. According to the Trace, there were over 20,000 people killed by guns in 2021 (excluding suicide).
We could probably debate all day about what causes the ever-increasing number of gun deaths, but we can’t argue with the stats. Violence has a cyclical element to it, meaning some years it’s been lower and some years it’s higher.
The troubling part about gun violence in our nation is the spike at the onset of the Covid pandemic (2019). An increase in gun deaths by just over 25% in 2 years should alarm anyone with a family.
How Many Children And Teens Are Killed By Guns?
It’s always tough and difficult to research and write about the violent death of children.
However, educating the public on the facts of our current environment is something I take seriously and with great pride.
Before we discuss the numbers, it’s important to set the limits of what the government classifies as a child and teen. We categorize children as under 12 years old, while we categorize teens from 12 to 17 years old.
I hope everyone reading this is as heartbroken and astonished as I was to learn that over 1,063 children were shot (313 Killed) in 2021!
To add to the frustration of LEOs all over the country, there were 4,625 teens shot (1246 killed) in 2021.
What Does 2022 Look Like For Gun Violence?
The numbers are pouring in everyday, but the fact is that according to the F.B.I. and the Gun Archive, 2022 is shaping up to be even worse.
As of March 20, 2022, there have been at least 143 confirmed killings of children since the new year. We’re not even done with 4 months of 2022 and we’ve already reached 46% of 2021 deaths!
An even more alarming trend is 121 other children have been shot and injured since March 20th, 2022.
With hours of research into gun violence, I can’t find any year on record with more gun deaths than injuries for any demographic. I still think the numbers will correct toward the norm and we’ll see many more injuries than deaths, however.
What Could Be The Reason For the Increase in Death From Year To Year?
There are many reasons for this new trend we’ve seen this year, but if I can share my opinion as a researcher, I think it’s the advancement in ballistics and weaponry.
Simply put, bullets are more dangerous today than they’ve ever been in our history. Bullets can optimize the amount of gunpowder to generate more velocity, while maintaining the accuracy and energy upon impact.
Gun manufacturers have been creating guns chambered in rifle calibers (5.56, 7.62, 6.5 Creedmoor, etc…), while maintaining the size of a pistol (AR- Pistols).
The only way to combat the significant advancements in smokeless gun powder, bullet design, and metallurgy is to find ballistic protection that also has advanced technology to stop modern munitions. This is where we come in with our patented Duritium® Technology!
Do You Have To Be A Certain Age To Buy Body Armor?
Yes, anyone under 18 years of age would need their legal guardian to purchase the armor for them. If you’re interested in learning more about restrictions of body armor use, please read, Is it Legal to Wear Body Armor in Public?
Does Backpack Armor Work?
One of the most popular questions we get from parent’s is , “Does Backpack Armor Work?”
Our answer always depends on the brand you’re asking about because not all brands are the same.
For example, you may see companies selling “bulletproof backpacks” online, but only offer a YouTube video of their “field test” and a chart of the NIJ armor classifications.
NIJ-Listed independent laboratories stringently tested our backpack inserts for both Level IIIA and Level 3 to ensure compliance with the NIJ.
Yes, we have YouTube videos and charts, but they’re backed up by independent testing under U.S. federal standards.
All 4 products you see here today come with the actual reports that were given back to us from either the NIJ or NIJ-Listed testing laboratories.
What Do We Recommend For Children?
With children of our own, I hate to say we test our products on them because it sounds sinister, but it helps to see how a backpack insert feels on my daughter’s shoulders and back.
We’d never want to recommend a product that we wouldn’t give our own children. There are a few important characteristics that all 4 of our backpack inserts have that are perfect for children.
Lightweight Body Armor
It’s not just soldiers and police that need lightweight body armor and I know I wouldn’t want my girl wearing something that’s going to hurt her back, hips, knees, or shoulders.
As our team of engineers developed our backpack armor, making it as lightweight as possible was at the forefront. Our 3 Level 3A inserts weigh less than 1.7 lbs and will stop at least 6 shots from a .44 Magnum.
Durability
Most handguns sold today are striker-fired pistols with larger magazines than ever before.
It’s not enough to stop 1 bullet anymore because you’re likely to see 4-15 shots depending on the magazine size.
Striker-fired pistols have a much faster reset and can shoot dozens of rounds per minute. Body armor needs to be classified as a multi-hit plate or it doesn’t do us any good.
All Duritium® body armor plates and inserts are multi-hit capable and we prove that with our NTS-Chesapeake ballistic testing results.
Concealment
The last thing any parent wants to do is place a tactical vest on their children as they leave the house for school.
We don’t have anyone that is advocating for that, so how do we protect our children and not have them leave the house like a soldier of fortune?
Our Level 3A backpack inserts and clipboard are incredibly thin at only 0.26” thick and under 1.7 Lbs per insert.
We’ve imprinted our SS logo on our inserts to offer a semblance of normality with an unassuming print.
What’s The Difference Between BallisticBoard® IIIA Soft Insert/Hard Insert?
Our 2 Level 3A backpack inserts are almost identical in performance and specifications, but do have obvious differences.
The BallisticBoard® IIIA soft insert is lighter and will be easier to conceal and conform to the shape of the backpack. This flexibility matters more with a plate insert, but doesn’t make any meaningful difference inside a backpack.
The only reason to choose a softer armor insert is to conceal it a little easier than a hard insert and to save 1.6 ounces in weight.
For my family, I chose the hard plate insert because the durability of the hard plate will help in mitigating the force of the bullet a little better than a soft insert will.
Regardless of which style you choose, our BallisticBoard® IIIA backpack insert is the best lightweight ballistic insert on the planet.
BallisticBoard® IIIA Clipboard
The BallisticBoard® IIIA Clipboard is the most inconspicuous armor insert on the planet with phenomenal durability and Level 3A ballistic protection.
Place the clipboard into your child's backpack and no one will ever know that the clipboard will stop at least 6 direct hits from a 9mm or .44 Magnum pistol.
Not only is the clipboard concealable and durable, but it’s also only 1.3 lbs for an unmatched Level 3A insert!
The very first time I tested our BallisticBoard® IIIA Clipboard was in my 10-year-old's backpack. She didn’t even know it was in there until she got to school and saw a “cool clipboard” behind her iPad.
Where Else Can I Use The BallisticBoard® IIIA Clipboard?
Be creative, but we’ve used the BallisticBoard® IIIA Clipboard in a suitcase, briefcase, backpack, computer bag, and my wife's purse.
BallisticBoard® III Backpack Insert
If you’re looking to protect your teens in high school from gun violence, there is nothing better than the BallisticBoard® III Backpack Insert.
There is no other ballistic backpack insert that is rifle-rated to stop at least 6 shots from a 5.56mm x 45mm bullet and weighs less than 4 lbs.
Although gun violence from rifles like the AR-15 and AK-47 are uncommon, there were 693 mass shootings in 2021 (over 4 victims). There is no telling when you’ll need rifle protection, so it’s best to be prepared.
Why Choose ShotStop®?
We focus on creating lightweight ballistic protection for every American to take advantage of. Our Duritium® technology is the most universal body armor because of its incredible strength, durability, and lightweight.
Our company motto is “We Protect The Protectors”, such as first responders and military personnel.
LEOs and the U.S. government require validation and physical evidence obtained from independent laboratories before they’ll ever trust a product.
We encourage our civilian customers to follow that same guideline of demanding evidence with independent lab test results of the official seal of the NIJ on their armor.
ShotStop® strongly believes in integrity, honesty, and customer service above profits. We’ve never turned down a request to provide evidence on our armor testing because we want the world to see it to believe it.
As some companies speak in vague terms and use verbal judo lawyer talk in their product descriptions, we will never intentionally mislead our customers.
The safety and security of our families means everything to us and we know it means everything to you as well.
Not only will you get the best (15-year) warranty of any other company, but you’ll get peace of mind knowing that you just bought the most durable, practical, and effective backpack insert that money can buy.
We know this is a hard time for many Americans and if you’re serious about taking the next step to protect your families, reach out to our sales team at sales@shotstop.com.
ShotStop® Flash Sale!
10% off all ballistic rifle and handgun backpack inserts and handgun-rated clipboards.
This is a rare opportunity for every customer to save $50 on a pair of Level IIIA Clipboards that weigh only 1.3 lbs per item.
Use code SSBINSERTS4242
Good through May 31, 2022
While supplies last. Limit 6 per customer. Please be aware that rifle-rated inserts may need a longer lead time for delivery.