I've heard that in a lot of aboriginal culures the carrying of weapons, spears and knives, is perfectly acceptable but carrying sheilds is not. After all spears are used in hunting as well as war and knives and daggers are used in all kinds of activities. But its forbidden to carry a sheild since sheilds are only used in war.
In our society, it seems more acceptable to people's sensibilities for people to carry sheilds or wear armor then to carry a gun. But the logic of the aboriginal laws is still pretty strong. There are still many more legitimate reasons for carrying a weapon in public then a sheild. And carrying a weapon makes more sense then a sheild from a self-defense point of view. A sheild with out a weapon can easily be circumvented.
I don't think giving children sheilds will save any lives. Indeed the weight will slow them down if they ever have to run from a threat.
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A gentleman should always be able to break his fast in the manner of a gentleman where so ever he may find himself.--Good Omens