Posted on 09/14/2019 9:20:27 AM PDT by Callan
The chief executives of major US companies sent Senate leaders a letter on Thursday, urging Congress to expand background checks on all gun sales and issue stronger “red flag” laws. The letter, first shared by the New York Times, is backed by 145 CEOs of well-known retailers, technology companies, and financial institutions, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Levi Strauss, Reddit, Twitter, and Uber.
The move demonstrates how top corporate leaders are taking a united stance toward gun violence in the wake of recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. Gun violence is “a public health crisis that demands urgent action,” the executives wrote in the letter, adding that they have a responsibility and obligation to stand up for the safety of their employees, customers, and people across the country.
“Gun violence in America is not inevitable; it’s preventable,” they continued. “There are steps Congress can, and must, take to prevent and reduce gun violence.”
Recent polls show that Americans across party lines support initiatives that could curb gun violence: A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll shows bipartisan support — even among a majority of gun owners — for increased funding for mental health screenings and treatment, universal background checks, red flag laws, and requiring gun licenses. A recent Washington Post-ABC News poll also showed similar results, with 86 percent of Americans supporting extreme risk “red flag” laws that allow guns to be taken from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, told NPR that “the congressional crowd is very much out of step with where public opinion is on [gun control].” In the Thursday letter sent to Congress, executives maintained that their requests are in line with public opinion: “These proposals are common-sense, bipartisan and widely supported by the American public.”
However, companies are aware of the potential for backlash, Levi Strauss CEO Chip Bergh told the New York Times. “This has been spun by the N.R.A. as we’re trying to repeal the Second Amendment,” Bergh said. “Nothing is further from the truth.”
When Dick’s Sporting Goods decided to stop selling assault-style weapons and raise the gun-purchasing age to 21 last year, the retailer was threatened by customer boycotts online and reported slow sales. But it’s recently seen strong earnings — which suggests that brief spat of outrage had no long-lasting impact on the company, according to the Washington Post.
While Congress is deadlocked between the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democrat-held House of Representatives (which has passed a universal background checks bill and introduced legislation on an assault weapons ban), corporate actions appear to be more effective — or at the very least proactive — in reducing the possibility of gun violence. In today’s highly politicized environment, brands have become markedly more explicit about their views.
Last week, Walmart announced it will reduce gun sales in stores nationwide: The retailer will stop selling short-barrel rifle ammunition, handgun ammunition, and handguns in Alaska (the last state where Walmart has them available). It will also ask customers to stop openly carrying guns in its stores as well as at Sam’s Club, even in states where open carry is legal. Retailers like Walgreens, CVS, and Kroger also joined Walmart, asking shoppers to not openly carry firearms in stores.
Gun violence has emerged as one of the nation’s most pressing political issues, according to public opinion. And while lawmakers can’t seem to come to a consensus, it seems as if some corporate leaders have: It is time for the Senate to take action.
Ah, who among us does not want to curb gun violence
Reply to:
The chief executives of major US companies sent Senate leaders a letter on Thursday, urging Congress to expand background checks on all gun sales and issue stronger “red flag” laws. The letter, first shared by the New York Times, is backed by 145 CEOs of well-known retailers, technology companies, and financial institutions, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Levi Strauss, Reddit, Twitter, and Uber.
First off - did they ship in their body guard’s guns and their own guns as an example to show they really mean it? Are they tearing down the WALLS around their big fat mansions wherever they live?
Thought not!
Bleed heart verbiage that’s all it is! And it cost nothing to spew it just like pooping on the ground!
I want to curb leftist coercion. It’s responsible for a whole lot more deaths.
Keeping guns out of Democrats hands would curb a lot of gun violence.
Red Flag the CEO list for their hostility to children.
The only company on that list I do any business with is Door Dash. Not any longer. I’ll switch to Grub Hub.
Read the letter. It’s ludicrous in it unsubstantiated, specious declarations. Then note the signers, primarily Silicon Valley communists. Then note the Bloomberg signature. My guess is that Bloomberg and Handgun Control ginned this up.
I want a list, without giving NYT a click.
I also want everyone to think about what OTHER rights they are surrendering (having taken) in order for this feculence to become law!
It’s NOT just the 2A under attack here, it is MUCH more.
Please think about it.
Link is to a PDF (no ads) - it’s likely posted elsewhere on the interwebz
We already knew Dick’s was unAmerican. This just rounds out the list of America haters.
As a proud Republican, I’m am 100% positive that our Republican senators will not bend by the pressure and campaign financing that these anti 2nd Amendment billionaire CEO’s will apply.
I looked at the list. Of the companies named, less than one third were companies that had more than 500 employees. In that group, it was the usual suspects: (Bloomberg, Huffington, Lyft, Uber,etc.) More than two thirds were companies with less than 500 employees, and honestly I didn’t recognize a name in the bunch. “156 companies” is very misleading when you consider that more than two thirds are startups that nobody has ever heard of.
CC
Enforce the laws we have and much of the real gun violence will be curtailed. Sure there will still be one-offs that slip through the cracks.
However the real gun violence exists in the urban areas controlled by democrats.
Could someone write an algorithm to run these names against the Epstein flight log?
For the ones that have security, pretty much all of them outsource it to a security company. They may have some type of security directory-type, that coordinates and liaison’s with the protection guys, that is a full time job with the company, but the guys with guns work for someone else. It provides a layer of protection to the company or principal and deniability.
Imagine Google or Microsoft, both of which have armed security around certain executives, outsource the actual gruntwork. Hell, Gates, who says he doesn’t like or want security, normally has about 20-30 folks around him at all times. I guess, after getting a pie in the face, twice, Microsoft thought they better tighten things up a bit.
I digress.....Given the fact that the previous occupant of the White House was so good at weaponizing the government apparatus to his advantage, I think it’s about time the current occupant does the same thing. I think he should send the IRS and anyone else he could think of after every single one of the security companies and all their employees. Enact a policy that if a company is going to use retired cops, due to their ability to use their HR218 privileges, while traveling, make sure that the companies are in compliance with the insurance mandates for security company’s in every state that is visited.
On a side note, there was a crooked Sheriff in New Mexico that handed out credentials to former SpecOps types and the security folks for the ultra-rich, like the Koch Bros. They went that route so their security guys could carry all over the country. He ended up getting in some trouble after one of his clowns, that had never been through any kind of police training, killed a guy in a bar.
Anywho...make life miserable for everyone.
Lets see how the hypocrites like it.
Nazi oligarchs present the party line to the peasants.
They were threatened with boycotts if they didn’t do this count on it. Capitulate or get boycotted and doxed your choice.
I took a look at the companies.
Most of them are far-left to begin with, and over 3/4 are tiny little companies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.