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TUCSON - Bulletproof backpacks are on the rise in the United States following the mass shooting in Connecticut.

Bourque Industries in Tucson is among the companies selling the armor.

John Bourque said, "this is not what we designed this armor for." He said since the shooting his company has received orders from all over the country.

The company performed a demonstration for News 4 Tucson on Thursday. Bourque fired 20 rounds of ammunition into a backpack with the armored plates, including a 12-gauge shotgun.

"You can see a devastating affect to the bag but if you notice the back no damage. You pull out of the plate, it's riddled with the slug and shells but the plate is absolutely intact," he explained.

Danielle Moreno has a 5-year-old son in kindergarten, "as a parent I would definitely look into it.
there's no price that you put on your child and I think it's a great idea."

The plate weighs approximately two pounds. Bourque said the plates slide easily into any backpack, "you got your straps and you literally have a ballistic shield."

The armored plates sell for less than $200.