More people are profiting from the spate of school shootings. Gotta love America.

Courtesy of Americans Against the Tea Party:  

From bulletproof blankets to devices designed to keep psychopaths with guns out of classrooms, the free market is offering solutions that Congress will not–which, unfortunately, do nothing to prevent bloodshed from happening in the first place. 

Now, a former police officer has teamed up with her daughter to invent the latest product designed to offset Congress’ inaction: the bulletproof backpack. Christina Thomas and her daughter Kelsey Thomas-Gregorio have proudly introduced AttachaPack, a line of backpacks for children that come with bulletproof inserts–and don’t worry parents: They’re customizable! 

“Our mission is to offer a range of innovative backpacks that can be personalized and enhanced in a way that excites kids and gives parents peace of mind,” they say on their web site. 

Available with a variety of options, the packs sell for up to $70 and are designed to “give parents peace of mind.” However, school security experts doubt their effectiveness. Ken Trump, a Cleveland-based school safety consultant, told NBC that “It may be well-intended but it’s not well thought-out.” He added, “I would ask this question: If you need a bulletproof backpack, wouldn’t the child also need a bulletproof front pack and a helmet and a Captain America shield?” 

“I have a vision of a classroom of kids running down a gym court playing basketball with their backpacks on,” Trump said.

Of course we have already responded to an earlier story about another company selling these completely useless backpacks, as well as the bulletproof mats, and calls to arm classroom teachers.

None of which will do a damn thing about the loss of life in the event of a school shooting.

And speaking of the loss of life, one has to question the compassion demonstrated by a company that decorates its supposedly life saving accessory with human skulls.

If people really want to protect our children they need to pass comprehensive gun legislation that will keep guns out of the hands of people who should NEVER have access to them.

Is this how the NRA and pro-gun politicians want us to protect our children?

Bullet Blocker

Courtesy of Mother Jones:  

"Basically, there's three models," says Derek Williams. "A SwissGear that's made for teens, and we've got an Avengers and a Disney Princess backpack for little kids." 

Williams is the president of Amendment II, a Salt Lake City-based company that manufactures lightweight body armor for law enforcement and military use. But lately they've moved into a different market: body armor for kids. Six months ago, Amendment II introduced a new line of backpacks, built with the company's signature carbon nanotube armor, designed to keep kids safe in the event of school shootings. Since Friday's massacre at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school, sales have gone through the roof. "I can't go into exact sales numbers, but basically we tripled our sales volume of backpacks that we typically do in a month—in one week," Williams says. 

With thoughts of defenseless children seared into the national consciousness, the company doesn't plan on letting the crisis go to waste. "We want to be sensitive to how we do that, but we are gonna try to get the word out that this product does exist that there are ways to at least provide our children with some protection," Williams says.

Armed teachers, metal detectors at school entrances, and now bullet proof backpacks?

These are the suggestions of people who simply do NOT want to address the real problem.

If we pass laws that dramatically reduce the number of weapons in our country. If we create legislation that makes it harder to get guns in this country. And if we pass laws severely punishing those who illegally sell guns in this country. Then we DON'T have to send our children to schools set up like high security prisons while toting around heavy armored backpacks in this country.

How hard is that to figure out?

This is supposed to be the country that promotes and protects our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How happy is a parent who has to spend the day worrying about the safety of her little girl?

How much liberty do our children enjoy if they have to pass through a metal detector and have their backpacks checked for possible firearms as they enter their public schools?

And how much is our ability to live a long life improved when at any given time we are surrounded by an unknown number of death dealing weaponry?

Does this appear to be a viable solution to our gun problem?

And how do reasonable people communicate and negotiate with those that think it is?