'Exploiting fear': US companies cashing in with 'bulletproof' backpacks for kids

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The bulletproof panels are designed to withstand multiple rounds from a handgun - and two of this season's bestsellers are emblazoned with Disney princesses and Avengers superheroes.

Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton

"So many of the things we're investing in today, whether it's smart-home technology or protective backpacks, are about safety and security," said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst for the market research firm NPD Group. "Every time we have one of these incidents, it's a reminder of how just how vulnerable we are."

gunmen in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, killed at least 31 people and injured dozens more with military-style riflesWithin hours, Leatherback Gear, which sells backpacks that convert into bulletproof vests, saw a 12-fold increase in sales. "It was all hands on deck all weekend," said Brad de Geus, who founded the company with his brother three years ago. "Everybody's fielding calls and emails.

"It's just like having a fire extinguisher or using a seat belt," he said. "These are personal devices for life-threatening situations. It's as simple as that."Washington Post photo by Jonathan Newton

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Aussie kids will need to opt for chair or milk crate.

It won't provide much protection being just on the back but I think the company will make a fortune on the back of mummy guilt or should I say mommy guilt.

Fear is what the NRA use & the underpinning of much political rhetoric...why not let others into the same game?

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