US school massacre boosts sales of bulletproof backpacks for kids

Parents' anxiety following last week's Connecticut tragedy is driving a surge in sales of bulletproof backpacks, in the hope they can give their children a safety edge.

For under US$300, the company Amendment II - a play on the second amendment to the US constitution, which guarantees the right to bear arms - is selling a backpack with Avengers characters on it for boys and a Little Mermaid one for girls.

"Sewn into the rear of the pack, you can always be confident that the armour hasn't been accidentally left at home and that you or your child are protected in case of the unthinkable," the Utah company says.

"It is an awful thing - you would never imagine your child with this kind of stuff - but since the Newtown tragedy, our sales are more than 10 times better than usual," company head Richard Craig said.

Amendment II is among a handful of companies offering protective gear for US schoolchildren whose parents arguably feel more vulnerable than ever.

Another company, BulletBlocker, is offering inserts for US$150 to US$200 that slip into a backpack. Since Friday, sales were up 40 per cent to 40 a day, he said. "It is just peace of mind, security for parents," vice-president Elmar Uy said.