An American school will be piloting a bulletproof saferoom that can be opened in 10 seconds. The saferoom which also serves as a whiteboard will be used to protect kids and staff from mass shootings.
West Elementary School in Alabama have installed the ballistics wall in two classrooms. It is the first of its kind in the US. The walls which can stop a rifle bullet cost $60K. They look like white boards but can be pulled open by teachers to lead kids to safety in the event of a shooting or severe weather.
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It comes with no door handles to avoid a shooter opening it from the outside and can be locked from within. Security company, KT Security Solutions originally designed it to be used as shelter for the military but after the Uvalde shooting in Texas they switched their focus to protecting pupils.
According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, America has already passed over 100 mass shootings just three months into 2023. The archive defines a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are shot, excluding the shooter.
In the state of Alabama where the West Elementary School is based, there have been 42 school shootings since 1970 according to statistics.
Speaking at the unveiling of the wall, owner of KT Security Solutions Kevin Thomas told local news outlet ABC 33/40: "What we have is a way to save kids. I don't want to be here, it's crazy, but somebody's gotta do it.
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"They asked, I heard the parents on that board over here, those 19 from Uvalde and the spouses of the teachers, said don't let this go nowhere, make it count and that's what we are doing.
"I can't control policies, I don't control gun control, I don't control mental illness, I don't control any of that. I'm not a policymaker, I'm just a contractor who lives out in the woods in Jones Chapel, but what we do have control over is the ability to make things that are innovative in the meantime, while we fix the bigger issues, We are going to do the here and now, now."
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