VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., (WAVY) — A pop-up Halloween store chain has been accused of being tone deaf to headlines of school shootings across the U.S. after showcasing a bullet belt and marketing it to teens.
Spirit Halloween, where people can find different types of Halloween costumes, sells a bullet belt in its prep school costume displays, and 10 On Your Side found it at two of its Virginia Beach stores it visited Tuesday. On its website, a gold bullet belt sells for $9.99, while a punk rock bullet belt sells for $14.99.
Some shoppers are concerned with how the message of having the product in its stores comes across to younger children, and one called it unacceptable.
“I don’t like it,” said one shopper. “I have three children that go to school, and I just heard about the shooting that just happened. And it’s scary, even though it’s a costume. Regardless, that’s just not [it]. They shouldn’t be making fun of these shootings and guns and stuff. It is a big deal.”
At one store, the plaid schoolgirl tie is right next to what is labeled as a bullet belt. As a mother, Vanessa said she would never buy the belt for her kids.
“I know people always say everyone’s so sensitive,” she said, “but it’s really not, because a lot of children are dying because of the school shootings, and you’re putting it where the school-like outfits are at. Like, that’s just wild to me.”
Some say the display is disturbing and distasteful.
“We became desensitized,” said Let Our Voice Empower Executive Director Adrian Cook. “We have glorified [gun violence] in some sense, and now we call the kids crazy, whose brains’ haven’t fully developed yet, and they are just doing what they see. These are learned behaviors.”
10 On Your Side reached out to Spirit Halloween about why the bullet belt was placed in that section. We received this statement:
“It was not our intention for this product or its placement in the store to be viewed in any way other than a punk rock accessory. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.”
Spirit Halloween did not say how it will handle the display or if it will be moved.