A bullet-resistant defensive device is disclosed made up of layers of
bullet resistant material layered together and connected along their
peripheral edge on a frame to form a planar shield. The shield so formed
works such that a bullet striking the shield causes the layered bullet
resistant material to flex thereby dissipating the force of the bullet,
the material when it stretches transfers the force of the bullet from a
shear mode to a tensile mode. One preferred embodiment incorporates the
invention into a clipboard box for use by police officers for protecting
against head, neck and hand wounds from handguns fired at close range
from vehicles. The hand-held, bullet resistant clipboard box holds
documents and writing implements, and the bullet-resistant material is
located within the clipboard box interior cavity and configured for
catching a fired bullet before it can pass through the entire clipboard.