Oklahoma “protective products” company, ProTecht, has developed a tool it says can shield an adult or child from both falling debris—or a 9mm bullet.
“The Bodyguard,” a neon orange, bulletproof blanket that can be strapped-on like a backpack, isn’t cheap: A single item reportedly costs around $1,000. But that’s because it’s made from the same material found in protective gear used by military and law enforcement, the company says.
On the product’s website, an ominous narrative reads, “9:02 a.m. Who would have guessed that on a quiet spring morning their lives would be changed forever by a sudden school tragedy.” In video posted on the website, which warns about tornados and “crazed gunmen” that strike without warning, students are shown donning the vest and curling under their protective blankets like bright orange turtles, lined in orderly fashion along a school hallway.
Although the blanket passed a National Institute of Justice test that aligns it with police armor, the blanket’s creator Steve Walker told the Oklahoman that the blankets could be a more cost-effective option for tornado protection than building new shelters. “By no means would we ever say that this is more protective. But when you have budget constraints, this might be a viable alternative,” Walker said.
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