Tucson company creates bulletproof backpacks to protect kids from school violence

TUCSON, AZ - You probably never thought you’d have to arm your children with bulletproof vests.

But one dad says armored bullet proof plates are the only thing giving him peace of mind while his children are in school.

“It’s hard for me to understand that we actually need this for our kids,” said John Bourque of Bourque Industries.

But for John, it was a no brainer when he heard 20 defenseless children were gun down and killed at a school in Newtown, Connecticut .

“Getting the call while it was going on was tragic. And I thought my kids are in a school environment. Are they protected? No they aren’t,” said Bourque.

Bourque said what’s good enough to protect Navy Seals should be good enough to protect his kids. So for Christmas, he gave them both bulletproof plates to slip into their backpacks.

“It’s easy, concealable, no one really will know it is in there. If you are a shooter, the last thing you’ll think about is a kid having body armor in his backpack,” said Bourque.

These military grade plates can withstand bullets from a handgun to an assault rifle. They can take up to 20 rounds.

We tested the shield. We fired six rounds from a .44 magnum handgun and two from a shotgun from point blank range.

The plate was strong enough to stop the bullet from piercing through.

The plate is being sold to the public for $150 and it is warrantied up to six years. If you are interested in buying one, you can go online , or call 520-624-5248