I have to make the comment in regards to this discussion that I was taught to shoot by a man than believed in head shots..... I guess all this center mass body armor is pretty good at protecting all but one of a person's vital organs... and that one is the most vital.

Even the training I've taken in the past 10 years teaches after 2 or 3 to center mass if that does not stop the threat go for the head.

my kids all have level 3a in their packs. It is peace of mind for me.
There is a science to armor, so some research is required. a 3a panel from an actual vest is very different than an insert for a back pack. The vest is tested in 4 sizes, I don't know for sure, but I'm pretty confident that these inserts are not tested like that, so buyer beware. I am using the cummerbund panels from my tac vests that are no longer in use for their packs. Still, any panel is better than nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
More likely to be hit by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket.
Save your money.

Is your rock in the shop? You know, the one you seem to have been living under.

How effective are books and computers at stopping bullets on their own?

How likely are kids to carry their backpacks from class to class if they have lockers?

I can see the utility of armor for college kids with their every other day schedules and books being online. Would armor be better close to the body, or away from the body with say a notebook and laptop between the armor and body?

According to this, a large enough stack of books will stop even a 223 bullet much better than a IIIA vest (which won’t usually stop it at all):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHkLU7_4sTs

The type of paper in the books will make some difference. There’s another video showing 22 Long Rifle bullets fired from a rifle perforating a thick telephone book which probably is made of less dense paper.

My youngest is in 10th grade. He has one book. Everything else is on their issued chromebooks. The kids are allowed to carry their backpacks to hold their coats and food. Most don’t bother with lockers and they only get 4 minutes between classes. No time to go to their locker.

I'd say SIGFREUND has the good advice, teach them to recognize and react to the situation. Emphasis on Situational awareness, the use of cover and concealment, and escape and evasion. You or your child should know all the entrances and exits to your school, place of work and/or commonly frequented areas. This is helpful in case of fires too.

If I read the statistics correctly a lot of mass shootings are done with pistols, so a soft panel in a backpack could be usable if the child winds up in the wrong place and takes fire.

There's a long history of long guns used in school shootings. Off the top of my head:
University of Texas
Columbine
Sandy Hook
Marjory Stoneman Douglas

If you really believe your child is at risk, then level III it is.

As far as situational awareness goes, I once told my oldest son to watch where he was walking, he responded, "I am Da...thunk" as he walked right into the side mirror of the car next to him.

While I find the idea of teaching my children some sort of survival skill appealing I can't help wondering how practical that would be.

In the K-12 schools I've been in, the classroom walls are concrete block and the doors are fire rated solid core with 6"x24" security glass windows.

In elementary school, the students are in a classroom most of the day. They leave the classroom as a group for lunch, recess, and PE. Should there be a threat, the classroom doors are locked and the window panes in those doors are covered. There are also door stops that are to be used as well should the lock fail. No teacher/staff member/administrator is going to let your child run wild in the halls. I don't know what happens with the students at lunch, recess, or PE. I haven't been in charge of a class in those situations when a lockdown has happened.

What would you teach your elementary aged child?

In middle school and high school, students will be in the halls between classes as well as lunch and PE.

What would you teach your middle/high schooler?

College is a different ball game entirely with a huge potential to teach your kid some skills for survival.

What would you teach a college kid?