黑料吃瓜网 U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling on the federal government to crack down on sellers of school supplies marketed as 鈥渂ulletproof,鈥� saying the marketing preys on kids鈥� and parents鈥� fears of school shootings.
Flanked by gun violence prevention advocates outside the Hartford office of nonprofit Mothers United Against Violence Friday morning, Blumenthal highlighted so-called 鈥渂ulletproof鈥� products ranging from $185 pencil cases to $495 hooded sweatshirts. Many of the companies suggest in their advertising that they鈥檝e received certification from the U.S. Department of Justice鈥檚 National Institute of Justice.
鈥淭here is no such certification by the National Institute of Justice,鈥� Blumenthal said. 鈥淚t sets standards only for law enforcement body armor.鈥�
鈥淎ny parent who relies on a pencil case or a clipboard or a hoodie to protect their kids in cases of an active shooter is deluding themselves, and that's a false sense of security that may be the most evil consequence of this kind of false claim,鈥� Blumenthal said. 鈥淭he Federal Trade Commission should stop the deceptive and misleading claims and the inflated prices.鈥�
In addition to an FTC investigation, Blumenthal also called on the Justice Department to launch its own probe into the companies鈥� claims or suggestions that it had certified the products. The senator also said he would 鈥渟upport and aid鈥� any consumers who wished to sue and seek punitive damages.
Sandy Hook survivor, advocates skeptical of claims
Advocates in attendance poked holes in the idea that the products are practical solutions to gun violence in schools. Abbey Clements, a teacher who survived the 2012 Newtown school shooting, said the items could lead to victims being blamed for their own shootings.
鈥淲hat if a kid doesn鈥檛 know how to jiu-jitsu her way with the [bulletproof] clipboard in an active situation that happens in seconds? And then, you know, whose fault is that?鈥� said Clements. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure a bulletproof pencil case is actually going to solve this.鈥�
鈥淗ere鈥檚 the implied message: 鈥楬ey kids, the generations before you refused to solve the problem of gun violence in our country so you need these things. They鈥檒l save you. Look how cool they are. And if you get shot we鈥檒l replace them for you for free,鈥欌�� Clements said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 shameful.鈥�
Jonathan Perloe, communications director for CT Against Gun Violence, said the only thing the products offer is 鈥渇alse security.鈥�
鈥淟et鈥檚 be really clear about this: schoolchildren exist in this everyday climate of fear because too many firearm owners don鈥檛 lock up their weapons,鈥� Perloe said. 鈥淭hree quarters of school shooters use a family member's gun. Bulletproof backpacks aren't going to solve this problem.鈥�
Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance, called the products 鈥淏and-Aids.鈥�
鈥淭he real solution to protecting our children in schools is electing gun safety champions,鈥� Murray said, who support comprehensive gun control and other gun safety legislation.
Next steps
In addition to a to FTC Chair Lina Khan, Blumenthal on Friday sent to 14 companies selling 鈥渂ulletproof鈥� products he says make 鈥渦nsupported claim[s] of U.S. government approval [which] suggest that your company is interested in profit, not children鈥檚 safety.鈥�
The senator requested written responses to questions about the companies鈥� product testing and pricing.
Maryland-based Hardwire, LLC, maker of a 鈥渂ulletproof clipboard,鈥� told 黑料吃瓜网 in a statement that the company 鈥渦nderstands the concerns expressed in Senator Blumenthal鈥檚 letter and concurs that additional oversight is needed on the subject of protective products used for school safety.鈥�
鈥淗ardwire disagrees with the suggestions made by the Senator's letter regarding Hardwire's product certifications, especially in light of our company's decades-long, proven track record of providing life-saving protective products to the U.S. military, critical infrastructure sectors, the Department of Justice, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,鈥� company CEO George Tunis wrote.
The Sellmark Corporation, whose subsidiary BulletSafe makes a 鈥渂ulletproof backpack insert,鈥� confirmed to 黑料吃瓜网 that they鈥檇 received Blumenthal鈥檚 letter and were 鈥渓ooking into the specific details and will provide his office with a timely response.鈥�
The remaining 12 companies did not return a request for comment.
鈥楲egitimate fears鈥�
To close the press conference, Blumenthal read from the advertising materials for a 鈥渂ulletproof鈥� hooded sweatshirt for children.
鈥淭hese children's sweatshirts will protect, quote, 鈥楢ll the vital organs,鈥� and it promises, quote, 鈥業f you get shot, God forbid, with our hoodies on, we'll send you a replacement hoodie free of charge 鈥� just include the police report or a news clip.鈥欌��
鈥淚 have trouble believing that quote,鈥� Blumenthal said. 鈥淏ut I think it illustrates the hypocrisy and the contempt for human beings on the part of many of these exploitative entrepreneurs who are deliberately manipulating the fears, legitimate fears, of parents.鈥�
