(The Guardian) Committee: gun makers earned over $1bn from AR-15s
Gun manufacturers made more than $1bn from sales of AR-15-style guns over the past decade, as hundreds of Americans perished in numerous mass shootings.
The revelation came during during a House committee meeting on Wednesday into the profits and practices of weapons makers.
Carolyn Maloney, the New York Democrat who chairs the committee, said sales tactics employed by the manufacturers were “deeply disturbing, exploitative and reckless.” Maloney added: In short, the gun industry is profiting off the blood of innocent Americans.
She said the guns were often marketed to young men as a way to prove their masculinity. The committee found five major gun makers took in more than $1bn in 10 years from the sale of AR-15-style firearms, which have been used in the vast majority of mass shootings.
Smith & Wesson alone brought in more than $125m last year.
The House hearing marked the first time in nearly two decades that CEOs of leading gun manufacturers testified before Congress about their business practices.
But the executives deflected responsibility for the recent spate of mass shootings, instead blaming individual bad actors and policy failures to prevent violent crime. “These acts are committed by murderers,” said Marty Daniel, chief executive of Daniel Defense. “The murderers are responsible.”
Christopher Killoy, president and CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Company, similarly argued it was wrong to blame the “inanimate object” of a firearm for deaths caused by gun violence.
“I hope the American people are paying attention today,” Maloney said. “It is clear that gun makers are not going to change unless Congress forces them to finally put people over profits.”
Gun manufacturers made more than $1bn from sales of AR-15-style guns over the past decade, as hundreds of Americans perished in numerous mass shootings.
The revelation came during during a House committee meeting on Wednesday into the profits and practices of weapons makers.
Carolyn Maloney, the New York Democrat who chairs the committee, said sales tactics employed by the manufacturers were “deeply disturbing, exploitative and reckless.” Maloney added: In short, the gun industry is profiting off the blood of innocent Americans.
She said the guns were often marketed to young men as a way to prove their masculinity. The committee found five major gun makers took in more than $1bn in 10 years from the sale of AR-15-style firearms, which have been used in the vast majority of mass shootings.
Smith & Wesson alone brought in more than $125m last year.
The House hearing marked the first time in nearly two decades that CEOs of leading gun manufacturers testified before Congress about their business practices.
But the executives deflected responsibility for the recent spate of mass shootings, instead blaming individual bad actors and policy failures to prevent violent crime. “These acts are committed by murderers,” said Marty Daniel, chief executive of Daniel Defense. “The murderers are responsible.”
Christopher Killoy, president and CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Company, similarly argued it was wrong to blame the “inanimate object” of a firearm for deaths caused by gun violence.
“I hope the American people are paying attention today,” Maloney said. “It is clear that gun makers are not going to change unless Congress forces them to finally put people over profits.”
