Blumenthal Calls for FTC Investigation into Misleading Claims Made by Manufacturers of Bulletproof School Supplies

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate seemingly deceptive advertising practices of manufacturers producing allegedly bulletproof school supplies. According to recent reporting from The New York Times, manufacturers of such products, including bulletproof pencil cases, binders, and backpack inserts, have touted certification by the National Institute of Justice, which neither tests nor certifies school products of any kind. Blumenthal is urging the FTC to take action, as these false marketing claims may give parents a false sense of security and potentially divert resources and attention away from solutions that are proven to help keep kids safe.

“While it is tragic that school supplies that purport to protect our children from gun violence in the classroom are necessary, at least 139 instances of gunfire have occurred on K-12 school grounds so far in 2024 alone. Eager to protect their children, parents are paying high prices, such as $185 for a pencil case and $149 for a ‘bulletproof backpack insert.’ And costs are even higher for school districts: desks marketed as bulletproof can cost up to ten times the price of a standard desk,” wrote Blumenthal in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan.

“These unsupported claims of U.S. government approval suggest that these companies are interested in profit, not children’s safety,” Blumenthal concluded. “I ask that the Commission investigate these companies to determine whether any unlawful, unfair, or deceptive advertising practices are taking place. Parents deserve better than false promises of security for their children.”

In addition to calling for an FTC investigation, Blumenthal wrote to more than a dozen companies that have made seemingly deceptive advertising claims, seeking information about the safety and certifications of their products. Blumenthal’s letters to these companies are available here.

The full text of Blumenthal’s letter to the FTC is available here and below:

November 1, 2024

The Honorable Lina Khan

Chair

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20580

Dear Chair Khan,

            I write with serious concerns about the seemingly deceptive advertising practices of numerous companies regarding their allegedly bulletproof school supplies. In recent months, millions of children across America went back to school. School districts prepared their classrooms and parents took their children shopping for supplies. Sadly, this increasingly means purchasing products that promise to keep children safe from gun violence.[1]

While it is tragic that school supplies that purport to protect our children from gun violence in the classroom are necessary, at least 139 instances of gunfire have occurred on K-12 school grounds so far in 2024 alone.[2] Eager to protect their children, parents are paying high prices, such as $185 for a pencil case and $149 for a “bulletproof backpack insert.”[3] And costs are even higher for school districts: desks marketed as bulletproof can cost up to ten times the price of a standard desk.[4]

Yet the manufacturers of these products frequently claim certifications that their products have not actually received.[5] Particularly worrying are false claims of certification by the National Institute of Justice, an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, which neither tests nor certifies school products of any kind.[6] These phony certifications help justify the steep prices for “bulletproof” products while giving parents a fraudulent and unearned sense of security.

Myriad firms claim their backpack inserts, binders, pencil cases, and other school supplies provide NIJ-rated protection. For example, Premier Body Armor claims its “Premier Body Armor Level IIIA Ballistic 3-Ring Binder Cover” is “[t]ested to meet the NIJ ballistic standards for Level IIIA.”[7] The Premier Body Armor “Universal Fit Level III+ Rifle-Rated Backpack Insert” is described as “[t]ested to meet the NIJ 0101.06 ballistic standard.”[8] Bullet Blocker’s “NIJ IIIA Bulletproof Tactical Organizer” is allegedly “[t]ested to the NIJ IIIA standards stopping a 357 Magnum, 44 Magnum, 9mm, .45 caliber hollow point ammunition and more.”[9] And Hardwire claims its “Bulletproof Clipboard Level 3A” features “NIJ Level 3A protection.”[10]

Similar claims are made by Safe Life Defense, RTS Tactical, Atomic Defense, White Horse Defense, Level-4 Armor, Leatherback Gear, Armored Republic, UARM, Bulletproof Zone, Citizen Armor, BulletSafe, and more.[11]

These unsupported claims of U.S. government approval suggest that these companies are interested in profit, not children’s safety. And false promises with expensive price tags risk diverting resources and attention of school districts and parents away from solutions that are proven to help keep kids safe. I ask that the Commission investigate these companies to determine whether any unlawful, unfair, or deceptive advertising practices are taking place. Parents deserve better than false promises of security for their children.

            Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

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