Demand increases for bulletproof backpacks

(NewsNation) — Some parents are turning to bulletproof backpacks in the wake of the tragic Uvalde, Texas, school shooting.

Mike de Geus, the founder and CEO of Leatherback Gear, explained how bulletproof backpacks work during a Thursday appearance on NewsNation’s “Prime.”

Designed by a former Secret Service agent, Leatherback Gear transforms backpacks into bulletproof vests. Children can protect themselves during a shooting by holding the backpack up to deflect bullets.

The intention behind Leatherback Gear is to provide people time and protection during chaos.

De Geus told NewsNation that his brother has actually been present during an an active shooting. And he’s one of a handful of people in the world that’s resolved such an incident, putting the shooter down where no one was killed except the shooter.

A spike in sales after a tragic event like a school shooting is typical, according to Steve Naremore, the owner of another backpack manufacturer TuffyPacks.