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Sales of Bulletproof Backpacks, Kids’ Body Armor Skyrocket After Connecticut Shooting

Dec. 19, 2012 5:20pm Jason Howerton

Sales of Bulletproof Backpacks, Kids Body Armor Skyrocket After Sandy Hook School Shooting

Dec. 19, 2012: Rick Brand, Chief Operating Officer of Amendment II, holds a children’s backpack with anti-ballistic insert during at the company’s manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City. (AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (TheBlaze/AP) — The reaction to the Connecticut school shooting can be seen in gun stores and self-defense retailers across the nation: Anxious parents are fueling sales of armored backpacks for children while firearms enthusiasts are stocking up on assault rifles in anticipation of tighter gun control measures.

A spike in gun sales is common after a mass shooting, but the Connecticut tragedy has generated record sales in many states. Colorado set a single-day record for gun background check requests the day after the Connecticut mass shootings, and some online retailers are removing assault rifles from websites in part because of diminishing supplies.

Nevada saw more requests for background checks in the days after the shooting than any other weekend this year. Some gun shop owners are even holding back on sales, anticipating only more interest and value after President Barack Obama on Wednesday tasked his administration with creating concrete proposals to reduce gun violence.

Robert Akers, a Rapid City, S.D., gun seller specializing in assault-style rifles, said he has about 50 of the weapons in stock but he’s not actively trying to sell them and has even turned off his phone.

“It’s a madhouse,” said Akers, owner of Rapid Fire Firearms. “Any time they have one of these shootings or an election, it gets that way. I don’t even want to sell them right now because I won’t be able to replace them for probably six months. … The price is only going to go up higher.”

At least three companies that make armored backpacks designed to shield children caught in a shootings also are reporting a large spike in sales and interest.

The body armor inserts fit into the back panel of a child’s backpack, and they sell for about $150 to $300, depending on the company.

The armor is designed to stop bullets from handguns, not assault rifles like the one used by the Connecticut shooter. The manufacturers and some parents say that while they don’t guarantee children won’t be killed, they could still be used as shields.

“Just like a seatbelt increases your odds of surviving in a car crash, these increase your odds of surviving being shot,” said Kerry Clark, president of Texas-based Backpackshield.com.

FOX13 has more details:

Ken Larson, 41, of Denver, Colo., already had an armored backpack for himself and convinced his wife to buy one for their 1-year-old after the Connecticut shooting on Friday, when a gunman stormed Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown and massacred 20 first-graders and six adults.

“It’s a no brainer. My son’s life is invaluable,” Larson said. “If I can get him a backpack for $200 that makes him safer, I don’t even have to think about that. Where is my credit card?”

Though Larson knows the backpack won’t guarantee his son’s safety when he starts school, he says it’s a worthy precaution.

“Kids already carry backpacks. When there is a shooting, you run for your life,” he said. “Having it right there and on when he runs for his life gives him more safety.”

Elmar Uy, vice president of operations at Bullet Blocker, a Massachusetts-based company that has sold the backpack armor since 2007, says the company’s sales have tripled since last week.

At Amendment II in Salt Lake City, sales of children’s backpacks and armored inserts are up 300 percent.

“The incident last week highlights the need to protect our children,” said co-owner Derek Williams. “We didn’t get in this business to do this. But the fact that is that our armor can help children just as it can help soldiers.”

Amendment II was founded about two years ago using a new lightweight nanotechnology to make body armor products for soldiers and law enforcement less cumbersome. They began making the backpack inserts about six months ago, and also sell child-sized bulletproof vests. While the backpack sales still represent a minor part of the business, they now sell two varieties online – one featuring Disney princesses and the other a scene from the movie Avengers.

Clark, president of Backpackshield.com, began making youth backpacks after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007.

“I don’t do it for the money, but to save the lives of kids,” Clark said. “We’ve got to do something more than just hide in the corner of the classroom.”

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Comments (29)

nelan72
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 4:16pm
A cast iron fry pan will do the same….and it is not a weapon.

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- ltb
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:13pm
  I finally understand what the phrase “Stupid is as stupid does” means. Let’s forget about teaching children morals, let’s forget about vile video games where children practice murdering people and let’s ignore how Hollywood glorifies violence, because clearly the way to solve the problem of our ever-increasing sadistic society is by giving children bulletproof backpacks.
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:13pm
Book Bags Banned At Some Local Schools

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/12/20/book-bags-banned-at-some-local-schools/

In Davie, Western High School took the step of banning backpacks for the rest of the week. The ban came after rumors of a shooting planned for the school on Friday began to percolate amongst the student body.

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Ramv36
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:52am
Damn, from all these comments, I must say I’m glad we sighted in our optics in order to properly shoot ourselves in the foot! THIS, armoring our kids against the crazies, is about the only ‘knee-jerk’ reaction that I can both get behind, AND that the idiot commies we have in charge right now can ALSO approve of.
I, and my County Sheriff, completely agree that teachers should be trained and armed. In reality, those in charge will NEVER allow that to happen, so stop pounding sand in that hole.
I completely agree that students old enough and licensed should be able to CCW in class, just like Utah and Colorado already do. In the current climate that will take decades to happen much like CCW originally has in the past.

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Americanius
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 1:41am
May as well be holding a piece of cardboard. People are so easy to be duped into handing over hundreds of dollars for gimmicks to make them feel safe after a tragedy. The sellers of these backpacks are laughing all the way to the bank and little Johnny is not any more safe than a child without one.
Besides, it’s not fair that some parents can purchase them and others can’t. So I smell a new program of free bullet resistant backpacks for children with free or reduced meals in school which is a great place for them to put their free cell phone.

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Hawk69
Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:46am
Freaking retarded. What if lil johney gets shot in the face? 6 or 7 years earlier liberals would have aborted these kids anyway.

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Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:59pm
What a stupid idea.
the first things kids take off (even before their jackets) is their backpack. and they put it in their cubby or hook and go sit down 15 feet away from it.
but there’s a sucker born every minute! Go capitalism -you’re ruthless, but we love you!

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jeanmchambers
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:58pm
This is STUPID!!!

Get your children out of these government public schools, if you love them!!!!

The public schools teach socialism and communism as if they are good things! They’re brain washing your children and you are letting them do it.

Why do you think 35 year olds and younger voted unamously for Obama???? They’ve been indoctrinated into socialism. They don’t know any better. They aren’t even taught why millions of Americans have fought and died for this great nation and the Constitution!!

Every day they hear Obama attacking our military, nation, and it’s foundations!

Get your children out!!

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- Ramv36
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:47am
  29 here, voted against Obama twice. Unanimity broken, point disproven.
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:31am
  28/W/M here, voted McCain (disgusting) and Romney (meh). Your point is invalid.
  
  I look forward to voting for whoever opposes the D’s next time, but I’ll probably not vote R if the candidate is a proggie-lite as I have in the past. Sjit’s gotta stop somewhere.
  
  Report this comment
Eastinfection
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:06pm
Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“this is heaven.” declared a small boy. “we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the spa

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:26pm
  ….excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
  all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
  and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
  “in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”
  
  Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:38pm
  Howdy East….
  
  Thanks for posting the rest of that.
  
  Yesterdays post stopped about half way.
  
  Report this comment
- orion0965
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:59pm
  That was a tear jerker for a father of 2. Nicely done.
  
  Report this comment
- LONGHOTSUMMER
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 8:22am
  I do so wish you guys wouldn’t keep on starting me up.
  
  Report this comment
PA PATRIOT
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:23pm
The gunshop near my home is jammed with customers.
They are not buying bullet proof backpacks for their kids.

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Tifn8r
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:23pm
Can we please just train teachers to be first responders, know how to defend the children with their own firearm, and be done with this?

Laws won’t stop criminals or crazies from doing bad things to innocent people. Only the fear of becoming a casualty will deter the bad guys.

If the school system really wants to protect our kids, they will focus on defending them, not vain attempts to deter criminals. The idiot in chief said it himself… Laws will not stop all the bad things from happening. They just might reduce the severity!

I’m not willing to give up my rights for the slight possibility of reducing the severity of the massacre! If we are going to trust our children to the school system, they should commit to defending them with their lives and every means available to them, and that should include carrying a sidearm.

Imagine if the principal, nurse, psychologist, and teachers had been armed and trained. How many children would have gone home instead of to the morgue that day?

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neverending
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:18pm
Great idea but not the answer. Our teachers need to be trained and many of them armed. Don’t need to do all of them because the yellow bellied cowards won’t go any place they think they will have resistance – so let them think they are all armed and ready for them.

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- banjarmon
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:27pm
  DiTTO
  
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kryptonite
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:12pm
So your munchkin is going to “run for his life” with his backpack on? Really?

Younger children are usually quite helpless in these situations, because they lack the maturity to defend themselves properly. Their best shot at survival is a quick-thinking adult they can trust. Hey, Dimwits, if you are truly concerned about child safety, how about we make schools Gun-Secure Zones?

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- banjarmon
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:30pm
  AMEN to that one,,,Responsible teachers WELL Trained!!
  
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Eastinfection
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:56pm
What a frieking scam.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn”

Way to exploit a scared mother’s dependence on that epitaph.

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FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:41pm
At least the article correctly points out that this stuff won’t stop rifle rounds. For that you need type III or IV, and that stuff is pretty heavy. These items would have done nothing in last week’s shooting.

The parents would be better off pitching in and hiring an armed retired police officer or other security specialist to work on school grounds during school hours. Short of that, we need to arm teachers. Not all teachers, but those responsible enough and willing to be properly trained and stay proficient.

My son is in school and I’d have NO issue with a few of his teachers being armed. In fact, I advocate it every chance I get.

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WildschweinJager
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:39pm
Talk about going over the cliff……

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banjarmon
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:34pm
BIG books stop bullets…They will either make your kid strong too or break their back!!

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Cavallo
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:34pm
Kinda cool. An over reaction but the merchandise is interesting. Personally I learned to shoot at the age of 5, and learned to safely operate and clean a weapon. Respect for firearms was taught at an early age.

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Tri-ox
Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:29pm
Bulletproof backpacks – what a great idea – I like it!

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- kaydeebeau
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 6:59am
  except to be effective little Johnny or Susie has to keep the backpack on all the time, all day long – not practical
  
  Keep your kids at home and teach them yourselves or get a group of parents together to alternate days at the school standing armed guard over them.
  
  Who do you really trust with your kids – you or some over paid underqualified bureaucrat?
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 10:14am
  Donna worry your kid will be sooooo -safe, when they just aim for his head!!
  
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