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‘The Time for Talk is Over’: Everytown for Gun Safety Releases Six Steps Gun Manufacturers Can Take to Improve Public Safety

4.17.2018

New Document Lays Out Three Policy Positions and Three Operational Reforms Gun Makers Can Commit to Immediately

NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety, the country’s largest gun violence prevention organization, today released “The Time for Talk is Over: A Call to Action for Gun Manufacturers,” which takes on misleading statements to shareholders by publicly traded U.S. gun manufacturers and challenges the companies to embrace six commitments that would improve public safety.

When BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, asked American Outdoor Brands Corporation, a.k.a. Smith & Wesson, and Sturm, Ruger, & Co., what they were doing to manage risk and support public safety, the companies issued statements that gave the impression that the status quo is sufficient and that there is nothing else to be done. As the call to action makes clear, they are wrong on both fronts.

The document describes three policy positions and three operational reforms that manufacturers can adopt immediately:

  • Support Legislation that Requires a Background Check on All Sales
  • Support Fully Funding and Empowering ATF
  • Support Repeal of Laws Restricting Government Research into Gun Violence
  • Adopt Distribution Contracts that Require Enhanced Dealer Responsibility
  • Monitor the Firearm Supply Chain for Illegal Activity
  • Develop Gun Safety & Gun Location Technology

Everytown’s call to action comes two weeks after Everytown released guidelines on how financial institutions can help reduce gun violence by requiring business partners in the firearms industry to follow responsible business practices. The weeks since the Parkland tragedy have also seen unprecedented action by retailers and financial institutions seeking to help improve gun safety.

STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:

“Gun makers need to realize that business as usual is no longer an option. The American people want manufacturers to do their part to protect us and take full responsibility for their products. The path to a safer gun industry is clear — the question now is whether manufacturers will take it.”