Baldwinsville (WSYR-TV) -- As the tragedy at Sandy Hook unfolded, a member of local law enforcement was watching closely.
"I have four kids of my own in public schools and not being able to be with my kids at the exact moment something happens renders me useless,” said Tom Czyz.
Czyz set out to help schools reinforce their most vulnerable line of defense -- windows. His company,
Armoured One, began installing a laminate that has been used for years in the Middle East to absorb car bombs and other violent attacks.
"The biggest thing is our security laminates allow us to break from the inside out. So, it's still a lot more secure, especially when it comes to a fire,” said Tino Amodei, Armoured One's COO.
The goal is to delay an intruder and make it harder for them to get inside. With a typical window, all you need is a hammer and you have instant access.
"It works almost like a glue and an adhesive. There are special agents inside it that holds it together. Basically, what the glass does is start to slow down and spread the impact of what is hitting it,” Czyz said.
"The price comparison is about 60 to 70 percent more expensive to do bullet proof glass than it is to do security laminates,” Amodei continued.
Several schools in New York are doing the math, giving Czyz hope that an idea to keep his own kids safe will resonate across the country.
"Things aren't changing. There have been years of active shooters and it's just getting worse. We're not doing anything to change. So, if we don't prepare for something, how can we expect the results to be different,” Czyz said.
Parents are invited to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas on the company's
Facebook page.
SWAT team members also work with the company to show teachers how to react to an active shooter. Several Central New York schools have expressed interest in the window laminates, prompting Czyz to hold a live demonstration at a local firing range next month.
