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The result of the Newtown shooting: Bulletproof white boards

By Charlie Osborne | January 24, 2013, 4:47 AM PST

As a result of the Newtown, Conn. school shooting, a handheld white board for classrooms has been developed to stop a bullet fired at close range.

An armor manufacturer from Maryland, George Tunis, has developed the school products as a direct response to the latest school shooting, USA Today reports. The hand-held white boards serve not only as a means to teach, but can be grabbed and used as a shield in times of need.

Derived from solutions developed for the Department of Defense, the white boards — which also come in the form of a clipboard — are 18 x 20 inches across and weight 3.75 pounds, manufactured by Tunis’ firm Hardwire. Without having any “psychological impact” on students, in case of emergency the white boards can be used to protect a head or torso. Each white board has three rubberized handles for additional grip. The white boards are crafted from a very strong, polyethylene-based material called Dyneema.

Tunis told USA Today:

“It’s something I don’t think any American can tolerate anymore, and we’re in a position to do something about it. Teachers are not first responders, but sometimes they’re thrust into that role.”

How this would fare in a situation where there are multiple targets is unknown, but at the least, it is some form of defense which could buy time — although it’s saddening that our classrooms may have to be armored in order for education professionals and students to be safe.

The CEO of Hardwire has donated 90 of the white boards to the school his children attend, each worth $300. Although the Headmaster, Barry Tull, did not mention any particular training for the teachers at the 525-student strong school, he did tell the publication:

“We’re very grateful to receive them. The products he has provided for us, I have been able to (provide) widespread layered protection throughout all the buildings on our campus. I’ve had teachers say, every layer we add, it just makes people feel fundamentally a bit more secure.”

(via USA Today)

Image credit: Hardwire

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About Charlie Osborne

Charlie Osborne is a contributing editor for SmartPlanet.

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What kind of 1d10ts are "thinking" up this stuff?

I don't think it's 1d10ts so much as opportunists looking to make a quick buck off of the easily amplified hysteria created any time the "safety" of "children" is supposedly involved.

Remember, when your local school board doesn't buy these for your kids, they are just demonstrating that they really don't care about "the children". If you refuse to allow your property taxes to be raised to pay for it, you are just showing that you're a selfish bastard who doesn't are about anyone other than yourself.

Edited by JohnMcGrew@...

Updated - 24th Jan

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In

Don't be so quick to dismiss this idea

I would assume that there is a layer of Kevlar (or equiv) built into this where as a refrigerator doesn't have that. I can easily see this on a larger scale too. Say a detachable chalk board sized version. Detach from the wall at the first sign of bullet fire and re-attach on the door frame. Thus adding another layer of protection to a locked door and preventing a gunman from entering the classroom in the first place. Police will tell you that burglers will move on if they can't get into your house within a few minutes. And I assume a gunman bent on mayhem won't be wasting bullets or time trying to take out just one door & classroom.

Posted by roselaurel

1st Feb

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And the silliness continues unabated.

Seriously, could you see a classroom of panicked children being trained to use this to any degree of effectiveness?

Posted by JohnMcGrew@...

24th Jan

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A Great Start.

No - just make this stuff the top of the desk or table to hide behind. Plus it would be fun to write on a desk. Something I got in trouble for when I was in grade school. I could see high school and college student using this.

Posted by rcmarcotte

24th Jan

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Security board

This white board can only protect one person, presumably that means a teacher. However, it is the children who have been shot.It would cost a small fortune to give everybody one of these.
What happened to the idea of having an armed security guard in the school? Maybe schools need to beef up their security systems.

Posted by kitemanmusic

24th Jan

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It doesn't even do that.

At the worst, this product will cause a shooter to use three bullets, instead of only one. The second one will go into some unshielded part of the victim's body, causing the victim to drop to the floor. The third will go where the first one was aimed.

I'd say to put this stuff on as the top of a table, and train the kids to push the tables over when a shooter comes in. The drills will actually be FUN for the students, so they will remember the action when it comes time to do it.

Posted by Lightning Joe

26th Jan

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Oh wow

I so totally can't see her lower body, so how could anybody possibly hit her? Besides, a single bullet will send the board flying from her hands, bulletproof or not. And the next bullet... What kind of 1d10ts are "thinking" up this stuff? 3,75 pounds? Yeah, carry that around all day. The only solution is gun control. You can't shoot anyone without a gun. Even an airport security gate is more effective than this. Sheesh.

But then again, 300 dollars a piece, what a business opportunity. I want in on this scam.

Posted by Dukhalion

Updated - 24th Jan

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What kind of 1d10ts are "thinking" up this stuff?

Posted by JohnMcGrew@...

Updated - 24th Jan

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I think it's a great idea

The protection is far from perfect, but much better than nothing. Hide with the kids in the bathroom. Have several kids hold one down low while the teacher holds one high. The lunatic shoots through the door, everyone screams, he opens the door in triumph, and out storms a mad-as-hell woman defending the little ones. That should at least cut the carnage.
To make this work better, put something in the bathroom (locked up) that the teacher can use for counter-attack. It doesn't have to be a gun.

Posted by dmm99

24th Jan

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RE: What kind

Then you get into the rest of the "shame mode mantra" - "If it will save just one"..wait! Haven't I heard that just lately?

Posted by GregGold

24th Jan

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not exactly wonder woman

reminds me of the bracelets that wonder woman used to fend off bullets. but, here, the shooter gets a clear shot at the pelvis while the defender is blind to whatever is going on in front of her, if her hands are not shaking too much from facing some mad person who is standing just feet away with an assault rifle, maybe ready to take out the kids while the teacher wonders what's going on because she can't see. a few trial runs are needed to develop the idea. in the meantime, here's what might really work: provide the children and teachers with bullet-proof vests, or, better yet, gladiator-type suits. who would dare to take on a classroom full of smurf gladiators? this would also make the children feel equal --the "uniform" effect-- and make it easier for parents to shop.

Posted by LatAm

24th Jan

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Here's a much better idea..

It will cost a lot more, but, it will, definitely, save a lot of lives in a school that a madman would enter with evil on his mind.

Build new schools as if they were high-security jails/prisons. It doesn't have to go as far as prison, but, the entryways and door and windows, can be built like they were meant to hold prisoners inside, but, in this case, to keep criminals or would-be shooters out.

Only the teachers would have access to the means for opening doors (and windows, if need be), and the principal (and assistant principal) would have access to the mechanism/technology that opens any and all doors. Video cameras would be installed in each classroom/hallway/bathroom/cafeteria/playground/etc., and principals and a guard and other school staff would be able to view what is happening in the whole school via a control center.

Current schools could be retrofitted with enough security to closely match what a new school would have, but, it wouldn't cost as much. The doors and building entrances and windows and cameras, can all be had for a much lower price than building a whole new school as if it were a prison.

Hey, it's just one idea, but, it would be better than what's there now.

Posted by adornoe

24th Jan

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Not a bad idea...

...considering that many public schools are already like prison; unfortunate children are forced to go to them by the state without any say otherwise.

Also, strip-searches would go a long way to reducing the number of weapons working their way in.

Posted by JohnMcGrew@...

25th Jan

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White Board Protection

It is not much, but, even a little bit of cover improves the odds of surviving an attack. What also would help is using practice drills to get children and others used to the white boards.

90% of you still think that more guns are the solution, and that shows up in other places like the landlord who killed 2 of his tenants because they parked in the driveway. The white board is an alternate solution that does not require another gun in a situation.

Posted by sboverie

24th Jan

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Good idea.

I suggest extensive "live fire" drills, so that the kids can experience exactly what it's like to be fired at, so that they will not be as surprised when it happens for real. Doing anything less would be completely pointless; just a room full of people in panic.

Posted by JohnMcGrew@...

25th Jan

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White boards are a very stupid idea,

and no matter how many or how big they are built, they won't stop a madman.

Here's a simple scenario:

A madman enters a school, with murder/massacre on his mind.

Teachers get their white boards after hearing the first shootings. The madman goes to the first classroom and sees a teacher with her board in front of her. The madman takes a kid hostage and threatens to shoot him/her unless the teacher drops the white board. What will the teacher do? Allow the kid to get butchered? Also, the madman can work his way towards the teacher and around her. Will the "shield" be able to stop the madman from working his way around her?

The white board is a silly, "feel good" idea, with no real protection, other than if the madman were to decide to just shoot from a distance and at the shield.

Next idea!

Posted by adornoe

26th Jan

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Is something better than nothing?

First lets look at this supposed shield.
Only 3.75 lbs, what can is stop? A .22 from a pistol? a .38? a .45? a mil spec .556 (same size as a .22 but with a lot more punch like the bushmaster AR15)?
Remember that even a small cal bullet will go straight through a steel refrigerator (front, internals, back) and still have plenty of power left.
If it really can stand up to a bullet then great, but lets see some testing. I want my wife to know it will protect her, before she tries to defend herself and children with a piece of plastic.

Second, lets look at the impact of having it (if it does work)
As others have so rightly pointed out this is not some impenetrable force field, there are many limitations, but if someone is shot in the leg, that is a lot better than in the chest.
Second if the assailant needs to take time to deal with the situation it give more time for others to deal with the assailant. The shield may not save the first or second or third class, but it might give time for a coordinated response before the attacker gets to the fourth or fifth classroom, and may also limit the damage (limit, not stop).

The solution is to deal with proliferation of guns and the belief that guns are somehow natural, and also to deal with the increasing number of mentally unstable who are being allowed into society with little to no care or support. We call them troubled but somehow feel it is their responsibility to find and pay for treatment. They are troubled

Posted by CharlesG1970

28th Jan

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Don't be so quick to dismiss this idea

Posted by roselaurel

1st Feb

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