Most people assume the lock on their front or classroom door will keep an intruder out.
That assumption is dangerously wrong.
What Standard Locks Actually Do
The standard door locks installed in most schools and commercial buildings serve two purposes: establishing privacy and providing a baseline expectation of access control. As Bolo Stick founder Bill Barna recalls his father saying: "Locks just keep the honest people honest."
That observation holds up under scrutiny. The typical commercial or institutional door lock does nothing more than create a threshold that law-abiding individuals respect. For a violent, focused attacker, a standard lock is an inconvenience measured in seconds, not a barrier. This is precisely why soft-target locations like businesses and schools have hosted the majority of active shooter casualties: the existing locks were never designed to stop a determined threat.
The Case for Layered Security
A lock is a first line of defense, not a complete security solution. The concept of layered security, endorsed by security professionals and law enforcement alike, means no single measure has to carry the entire burden.
Layers might include:
- Access control and visitor management systems
- Security cameras and monitoring
- Trained security personnel or School Resource Officers
- Active shooter training programs (ALICE, Run-Hide-Fight)
- Door barricade devices that reinforce the physical barrier
The Bolo Stick Door Barricade
The Bolo Stick door barricade was designed by a 33-year veteran police officer specifically to address the gap between what a standard lock provides and what an active shooter situation demands. Manufactured from 1045 cold-rolled steel and capable of resisting more than 4,200 pounds of force, the device deploys in seconds without special knowledge or training.
Bolo Stick is currently in use across 39 states and 6 countries internationally, securing schools, churches, offices, and government facilities. It is a NASRO Associate Member and endorsed by the NOCSSM.
A backup plan is not optional. Layering security provides a secondary measure to safeguard lives when the first line fails. There is never a second chance to get it right the first time.
"Be aware, proactive, and safe."
Add a critical layer of security. Shop Bolo Stick door barricade devices