Florida school starts selling $120 bulletproof backpack panels to students

A private, Christian school in Florida is offering bulletproof panels for its students' backpacks. Florida Christian School in Miami lists a $120 “ballistic panel” for purchase on its website, under items like red t-shirts and winter gear. The panels, according to dean of students and head of school security George Gulla, offer "another level of protection" to students "in the event of an active shooter”.
"The teachers are trained to instruct the students to use their backpacks as a shield to protect themselves," Gulla told CNN.
Mr Gulla declined to comment when reached by The Independent. The panels are slim, binder-sized pieces of armour that weigh less than a pound, according to the Miami Herald. They are build to withstand bullets like a .44 Magnum and a .357 SIG, but not those from rifles.  The panels are manufactured by Applied Fiber Concepts, a body armour company owned by Florida Christian parent Alex Cejas. Mr Cejas has been putting the panels into the backpacks of his children, ages 11 and 13, since they started school.
When Mr Gulla started running active shooter drills with students, Mr Cejas took note. He reached out about setting up a custom order for other parents. Mr Gulla told the Herald the reaction from parents has been largely positive.