“We are honored and grateful for receiving, what has become, necessary and vital piece of equipment in protecting our law enforcement, and for the safety of our community and our citizens,” said Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley during a presentation by GoingBallistic of a rifle-resistant ballistic shield last week. “This shield will provide better protection for our officers and allow them to be able to respond and advance effectively and efficiently toward the threat in order to stop it.” (Photo by Natalia V. Marsters)
Local non-profit GoingBallistic.org awarded its first rifle-resistant ballistic shield to Freestone County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Jeremy Shipley. The February 21, 2023 event marks the first major milestone for the freshly minted non-profit, as it strives to put rifle-resistant ballistic shields into the hands of law enforcement departments throughout Texas, starting with its over 200 rural communities.
A rifle resistant ballistic shield can make the difference between effective law enforcement involvement and tragedies like the one that took place in Uvalde, who’s officers were left waiting to take action.
Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley accepts a rifle-resistant ballistic shield from Donna Carter, founder and president of GoingBallistic, during a presentation on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Looking on is Texas Ranger (ret.) Matt Cawthon, Vice-President of the non-profit organization.
(Photo by Natalia V. Marsters)
The shield is the first one awarded so far by GoingBallistic, who partnered with ballistics equipment manufacturer HighCom Armor in order to make it happen. HighCom Armor was eager to work with founder and President, Donna Carter once she shared her idea, generously donating the ballistic shield to GoingBallistic.
After the shooting in Uvalde took place on May 24, 2002, Donna knew she had to do something, and she started asking questions.
“The more I learned the more I had questions like, I wonder if we have one [rifle-resistant ballistic shield] if it [active shooter situation] happened here? After a few phone calls I found the answer was No.
“Freestone County,” where Donna’s son will attend school, “admitted they did not have a rifle rated shield. I couldn’t believe it. After 32 years of having the same conversations over and over about guns no one though to prepare in the meantime,” Donna explains.
Fed up with the lack of ballistic equipment made available to rural law enforcement agencies, the GoBallistic founder, a Navarro County resident, decided to take matters into her own hands by starting the non-profit. So what started out as just an idea, has not put a rifle resistant ballistic shield into the hands of our local Freestone County Sheriff’s Department.
This shield will benefit the schools of Freestone County, which include Fairfield, Teague, and Wortham ISD, as well as over 10 preschools and at least one private school.
But Donna understands, “its not just for the schools, because the next time an active shooter situation could take place anywhere. Everyone benefits from our Sheriff’s Department being equipped with a rifle-resistant ballistic shield, not just the schools.”
GoingBallistic.org has identified over 200 rural communities in Texas that do not have a rifle-resistant ballistic shield, or the funds to secure one.
“That’s where we’re going to start next,” says Donna. “The week after I spoke with words ‘GoingBallistic’ out loud is when Governor Abbott appropriated $50 millions for bullet-resistant ballistic shields to address this problem, which just confirmed how much our law enforcement officers really need ballistic shields.”
“We’re excited to get involved with more rural law enforcement agencies who don’t have the funding to acquire ballistic protective equipment for their officers,” says Donna.
“We need your help. We need to get the word out in order to raise the resources that we need to secure more ballistic protective equipment for our law enforcement departments, so that they can use them to keep our children and our communities safe.”
