Have you ever gone through a pre-flight screening process? Ever been in your local City/County building or Courthouse? If so, you have had to go through the exact same processes that you are so fearful of, and you're being rather ridiculous about it. You're friend isn't going to die from it either. They have safety precautions in order to screen people with all manner of metallic implants or medical accessories. THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP YOU SAFE! You should be thankful that they are being proactive about it rather than wait for yet another sociopath copycat wannabe famous potential murderer comes into your school. I'm sure the clear back packs will be widely available before this next school year begins. Profiteers, I mean vendors are out there probably making them now. There again, that's why you're in school. You're showing that you still don't know much yet. As far as vending machines, the only reason they are detrimental to anyone's health is because they're stupid. Case in point, 2 years ago I was dropping son off at school, and could see into the glass doors of the school, where a couple dumb morons were ramming into and tipping a pop machine trying to steal from it (already had 1 or 2 out of it). It could have fallen on them, and they would have paid a big price for being idiots. I called the school office and told them to review their video logs of the hallway and time. The kids got suspended.