BulletBlocker Blog - Bulletproof Backpacks Bulletproof Vests and more
The blog and discussion forum for BulletBlocker products from user feedback to development ideas to questions and answers.
Our product line of Threat Level 3a bullet resistant aka "bulletproof" products include the original and patented Bulletproof Backpacks as seen on CNN and many other mainstream media outlets, also incl. Bulletproof Inserts and Panels and Bulletproof Vests.
The difficulties of mainstream media are associated with overly generalized content. This applies to newspapers, radio and television - a program schedule and content designed to try to get everyone's attention. It's the idea of providing a little something for everyone - though you will have to find it or wait for it. In line with this consideration, BulletBlocker's pulling away from one single generalized blog to develop multiple more specialized "mini-blogs".
Our aim is to consolidate "the best of information" applicable to each area of what we do - we make and sell products designed to help save lives. Topically, this comes down to Occupations, Communities, Interests and Concerns. The interests of an executive protection specialist, a parent with schoolchildren in Michigan or Texas, and a hunter in Maine or Colorado are all completely different. They are somewhat related where it concerns protection, but vary according to the types of protection needed, the root causes of why protection is needed, and with that all of the information, news, organizations and other resources available to them.
So, we have, are, and will be developing numerous mini-blogs to address each of these niches. Our aim is also to become more community interactive, network with other specialists, and engage to provide both product and information-based solutions. The key process of resolving problems is to achieve an understanding of the nature of a problem, collect all of the information relative to it, organize it, and increase accessibility to that information. This, in turn, facilitates communication and interaction to cultivate better responses and solutions.
This is an ongoing process with the intention of continuously improving the mini-blogs as we learn and discover more. The current phase is focused on establishing proof of concept, to basically get something for show. Following this, we are very much open to developing dialogue with others specializing in subjects in developing our list or resources, adding mini-reviews, and eventually interviews, too.
For examples of what we are working toward - we welcome you to check out the following mini-blogs that we've just started:
We've got a lot more lined up that we are working on, so this general blog will serve to provide announcements of new mini-blogs as they are added, and to cover other important developments, too. We will be adding more feautures including a forum to support discussion on a per topic basis, and eventually moving on to develop white papers. Our products are designed to help save lives. Our next phase is developing the information, awareness and consolidated lists of resources where anyone concerned about their personal safety can turn and find something intrinsically useful.
Despite what appears to be a lull in activity on the blog, writing continues. We are in the process of migrating everything over into mini-blogs to better cover a wider range of topics and interests. Check out the full Gang Violence Mini-Blog - we'll be improving upon it as we move along, expect to see more like this very shortly!
Gang Violence:
Size: According to the FBI, gang population was estimated to be up by 200,000 in January of 2009 from 2005. That brings estimates up to about 900,000 gang members with about 147,000 more in prison or jail. Bear in mind that the prison population in the United States in 2008 reached over 2.3 million with another 1.5 million under some form of state or federal jurisdiction or supervisory program. Per the National Drug Intelligence Center, "Gangs are present in every state and U.S. territory and some particularly violent urban gangs have expanded from inner cities to suburban and some rural areas. Gangs increasingly represent a threat to many smaller communities, and they control most retail-level drug distribution nationally. Gangs are also increasing their involvement in wholesale-level drug distribution."
Scope: In another report, "As of 1995, gang problems had been reported for all 50 States and the District of Columbia, for about 700 counties, and for about 1,500 cities and towns... States accounting for 100 percent of the population of the United States, cities and towns accounting for 50 percent of the total municipal population, and counties accounting for almost 80 percent of the all-county population reported the existence of youth gang problems." Gang activity can take place anywhere and everywhere - and that's based upon a 1995 report. Today, with the ongoing financial crisis in the United States and around the world, government budget cuts are forcing early releases of thousands of criminals. Federal courts in 2009 have mandated for California to reduce its prison population by 36,000 to 57,000 inmates over the next two to three years.
Solutions? Obviously, there is no single miracle solution for fighting gang violence; there are numerous root causes to tackle. Root causes can only be addressed at the family and community levels. There are eight basic layers of response:
1. Parents 2. Teachers 3. Neighborhoods 4. School Systems 5. Police 6. Courts 7. Prison 8. Government
The higher up this chain you have to go, the less effective the problem solving is - as it turns more and more from prevention to response and punishment. Quite obviously, *overall* none of these are working very well - not to say they are not trying. Everyone has their own pressures from work to paying the bills - life is getting harder for everyone. Families need to work together, develop buddy systems, communicate more and perhaps stop minding their own business a little less. It is one thing if one parent chastises a kid for spraypainting a wall, but when everyone is on the watch and children know they are being watched, and that their parents will be told - they will think twice.
When the next round of budget cuts starts hitting the ranks of the police and law enforcement, the matter will get worse. This is inevitable - 41 of 50 states are having budget problems in 2009 and anticipate it to continue well into 2010. Fifteen of these states have budget deficits in excess of 18% of their annual tax revenues. Consequently, local communities will by necessity need to step up to confront the presence of gangs or face even greater risks to safety and security. Communities which develop aggressive neighborhood watch programs that work together with local police are effective. There was an incident in which a store clerk was shot and those within the store simply continued to shop. Only one person called 911. If someone believes they can get away with anything, the odds are higher they will try to get away with anything. That's really what it comes down to.
One or two people trying to do this all on their own makes them vulnerable. Get the whole community involved - and it is the gang members, their methods of operation, and their entire organizational basis that becomes vulnerable. We can actually kind of take a look at foreign policy - if a country is unwilling or unable to police themselves, it increases the odds another country will step into police things. That's not very effective either, but when you start getting multiple communities communicating and working together to solve problems, things will change. This is what needs to be done. Community organization.
We're going to do a series about Gift Ideas - For Dads Who Kick Butt! Hard core guys who like cool things. Remember, Dad's Day is June 21st - third Sunday in June. So, let's kick this first series off with...
Mo Hotta, Mo Betta! - You may have heard about Dave's Insanity Sauce and Salsa, consider Dave's Special Reserve - a veritable collector's item weighing in at a cool 93,000 scoville units. In comparison, a regular jalapeno is only about 2,500 scoville units. There are "sauces" out there that can get up over a million. Trust me, 93,000 scoville units will make a grown man cry. One jar of Dave's Insanity Sauce is sufficient for more chilli than your Dad is likely to eat in a lifetime, unless he really likes hot chilli, double chilli-cheeseburgers with extra jalapeno peppers and of course chilli cheese-fries with extra jalapenos and a side order of chilli...and an Ice Cold Coca-Cola. There's more super hot sauce at Mo Hotta, Mo Betta than you'll know what to do with - and with all kinds of great names, like "Scorned Woman", "Lynchburg Tennessee BBQ - Firey Smokin' Hott (86 Proof)" and "Arizona Gunslinger Hot Sauce" - just to name a few. Then, there's the Ass Kicking Pistachios and Dave's Microwave Popcorn. So, if you want to see your father break into tears on Father's Day - this is the place to go. Personally, one of my favorite online stores in the whole world. If it doesn't make you cry, it ain't worth eatin'! - Available in Gift Certificates, too! Caution - see video below - read the warnings on the labels, they are serious.
Casio's G-Shock Watches - I guess you could say this is like the Samsonite of Men's Jewelry. The testing of these watches actually makes the 600 pound gorilla look gentle in comparison. There's the ice test, the underwater test, the drop test, and then there's the vibration test. If those four don't convince you, there's the piston test...and theHAMMER TEST! By golly, it looks like this thing is darn near indestructible! We could probably ship it over to North Korea to see whether it can stand up to their nuclear testing. So, if you're dad goes through cheap watches like underwear, get him a G-Shock Watch - he will probably never wear it, but it will keep him entertained for years!
Machines that Go BING! - Tech, high tech and cool stuff, and lots of it - too much tech stuff to cover so, we'll hand it over to Machines that Go Bing's Blog because that's what Steve does and he was very helpful in recommending the best Twitter application for Blackberries - that being UberTwitter.com. What kind of stuff does he cover? Let's start out with the Mazzer Robur - the MEANEST Espresso Grinder... ever....an Espresso Grinder so powerful it can reduce your coffee beans to dust. Then, there's the Dual Fuel Cocktail Shaker which puts a spin on the old twist and shake. Hard core tech stuff - Machines that Go BING!. While you're at it, make sure to follow him on Twitter at @meteorit.
Angler's Access - A fishing/hunting trip to Lake City, Michigan where you can stop by Angler's Access and meet Denny and Beth. Angler's Access is a "24 hour bait and tackle shop" located in downtown Lake City, Michigan. They provide everything you need - fresh bait, tackle, camping supplies and great conversation. They know what's best locally for lodging, for boat rentals, and everything else. It's summer and a weekend out to Michigan would be a good way to get away for a few days and let Dad relax. Okay, that last part about relaxing - that's not going to happen. But, it's the thought that counts. You can also hook up with them on twitter at @anglersaccess
BulletBlocker's Executive Briefcase - Yes, this is a shameless plug, but it fits perfectly for Dad's who are very protective about everything on their laptop than they are about themselves. Instruct your dad, that the briefcase is for him, too. This is a briefcase that will stop 9mm, .357 and .44 Magnum shells from penetrating and taking out his entire computer... and providing him some protection, too. It's airport friendly and has everything that other briefcases have - and it is bullet proof, too. If James Bond was going to a meeting, this is what Q would give him. And, of course, BulletBlocker has many other great products for men, women and children - bullet proof vests, bullet proof backpacks, and school safety kits, and more. Be prepared wherever you go - because you never know when something tragic will happen, but if something does, you'll have a fighting chance. Get us on Twitter, too at @bulletblocker
Okay - so there's a lot of cool stuff here, but it is easy to get carried away... like with the Hot Peppers. Dave's Insanity Salsa is about the hottest sauce anyone would want to try. It has a warning on the label to not eat it if you have heart or stomach problems. The sauce is made to be diluted, like a few drops for a full vat of chilli. I've had one drop on a chip and my face was red for a good 30 minutes. Dave's Insanity Salsa is more tolerable, but it is very, very hot. That's about 93,000 scovel units - meaning it would take like 93,000 equal parts of water to eliminate all trace of heat. Here's what happens when you try to take it too far, serious stuff. Yes, it starts out funny - but it can get extremely serious, real fast. So, use some common sense. Jalapeno peppers are one thing, a little bit of really hot salsa is another - but after that 100,000 scovel units, you really don't know how it will effect you... or your dad.
Just came across another great video of BulletBlocker's My Child's Pack being put through some serious testing. This video shows a live fire test of a BulletBlocker backpack being shot with a 9mm handgun for the Armed American Report published by the United States Concealed Carry Association by Cody S. Alderson
My Child's Pack - Only $195 Shipping Included! The Original Bullet Proof Backpack from BulletBlocker
Convenient Paypal "Buy Now" Option
$195 incl Shipping
Want to know what other Bullet Proof Vests, Packs, and other Bullet Proof Products we carry? Check out BulletBlocker.com
What can you really do when someone does have a gun and is shooting?
I'll start with a story. When our group first arrived in Iraq, we were treated with a nearly constant barrage of warning sirens - indicating an incoming rocket or mortar attack. If you hear the siren, per official instructions, you are to grab your personal protective equipment (PPE) and head immediately to a bunker. The sirens don't tell you when or where something is going to hit, just that something will hit, somewhere. After a solid eight hours of this, no one in our group had heard a single explosion. Night time. The sirens continued into the night. Gradually, fewer and fewer people were grabbing their stuff and going to the bunker. Once everyone got in bed, almost no one was going to the bunker. At about 2330 - Very, very big BOOM - followed by our tent getting sprayed with dirt. No one was hurt, but in five seconds everyone had their PPE on and they were sitting in the bunker. Yeah, that got our attention. Getting concerned after the fact does not help very much - though it certainly impacts how you respond to every future incident. But, all it takes is one time of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
According to iCasualties. org, there have been 4,311 military deaths and 31,169 military injuries in Iraq since we first went in (2003). Civilian casualties are not tracked. Civilians from the United States and other countries with contractors in Iraq are not quite as exposed, though there are certainly exceptions to that general rule - especially in the case of truckers - the guys who are the lifeblood of everyone there. However, it is appropriate to bear in mind that this reflects cumulative casualties over a six year period in a zone of conflict. The burden has been enormous on Iraqi citizens. Iraq was not particularly a safe place even before this war, the threat just changed names. I have no intention of diminishing the value of any single life - military or civilian, American or Iraqi or Indian (lots of Indian workers in Iraq), or those from any other country. I've worked with them, they are all good, hardworking people.
Over six years, military deaths stand at an average of 718 per year, combat related injuries at 5,195 per year. That is for a whole country, close to the size of California, in a conflict zone, where Americans are targets and stand out like a sore thumb. In contrast, Detroit experienced nearly 24,000 violent crimes in 2007, of which 418 alone involved murder or non-negligent manslaughter. One city for one year has over half the fatalities associated with violence as the entire country of Iraq.
Wikipedia's statistics on fatalities from automobile accidents is also a good comparison where the average number of fatalities for handgun related causes also tops 40,000 per year. We have mandatory seat belt laws and air bags, but our chances of dying in an automobile accident or about the same as our chances of actually getting shot. Or, we can look at drowning - 7,000 deaths per year, and yet it is mandatory for every boat to have a life vests and floatation devices.
Point is, that you don't know when someone is going to freak out and go on a rampage at school, in a mall or simply just drive by and pop one off. There are some who take precautions and are prepared for situations when they happen, and they have a fighting chance. Leastwise, if you hear a gun shot, and you are still standing, you can take action to defend yourself. Get down, low to the ground, reduce your chance of being seen, reduce your profile in the case that you are seen. The military trains soldiers to use cover and concealment, but also to crouch and crawl. But, you can also get the equivalent of a safety belt or life preserver, by getting some bullet resistant protection. Nothing is completely bullet proof, but when something has a 97% chance of stopping a bullet from virtually any handgun from hitting your vital organs - you do feel much safer.
You do what you can. But, to say this is hype or over-reaction? It is when nothing happens. It is not when something does happen. America likes to react to things after they happen - like this global financial crisis. We've been talking and talking about the growing amount of household and government debt since at least the 1980's. Did we do anything about it? Only after it became a massive crisis. We like to laugh at the people who warn us - like Roubini and Celiente. After it happens, after it gets personal - that's when we get concerned. Or, we can look at the trends, look what is happening, and maybe take a reasonable step or two to prepare for them before the problems do get up close and personal.
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Front and Rear Upper Torso Coverage with two 12" x 16" Panels Protection rated for 9mm FMJ, .357 Magnum, .45cal. and .44 Magnum! Lightweight: Under 3lbs. (50oz.+/-)! Non-Metal, Semi-Rigid, AntiBallistic Textile Panel One size fits all with flexible hook and loop straps
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