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SPRINGFIELD — The parent company of Smith & Wesson rebuffed a group of shareholding nuns who asked the company to do more to fight gun violence saying — in part — that its gun customers wouldn’t stand for it.
“The Company’s reputation as a strong defender of the Second Amendment is not worth risking for a vague goal of improving the company’s reputation among non-customers or special interest groups with an anti-Second Amendment agenda,” management at Springfield-based American Outdoor Brands Corporation wrote in a 20-page response issued Friday.
In 2018, frustrated by incessant gun violence, mass shootings and a lack of dialogue with gun makers, a coalition of nuns from around the country bought small amounts of stock in American Outdoor Brands and competitor Sturm, Ruger & Co.
The nuns, led by Sister Judy Byron, a member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and director of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investments in Seattle, put referendums on ballots for shareholders meetings at both companies requiring that management write reports about gun safety efforts and how they could be improved.
Both measures passed over management’s objections. Ruger has not yet released its report.
Smith & Wesson parent rebuffs shareholder nuns; says S&W guns used in violent crimes not hurting reputation
SPRINGFIELD — The parent company of Smith & Wesson rebuffed a group of shareholding nuns who asked the company to do more to fight gun violence saying — in part — that its gun customers wouldn’t stand for it.
“The Company’s reputation as a strong defender of the Second Amendment is not worth risking for a vague goal of improving the company’s reputation among non-customers or special interest groups with an anti-Second Amendment agenda,” management at Springfield-based American Outdoor Brands Corporation wrote in a 20-page response issued Friday.
In 2018, frustrated by incessant gun violence, mass shootings and a lack of dialogue with gun makers, a coalition of nuns from around the country bought small amounts of stock in American Outdoor Brands and competitor Sturm, Ruger & Co.
The nuns, led by Sister Judy Byron, a member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and director of the Northwest Coalition for Responsible Investments in Seattle, put referendums on ballots for shareholders meetings at both companies requiring that management write reports about gun safety efforts and how they could be improved.
Both measures passed over management’s objections. Ruger has not yet released its report.
Smith & Wesson parent rebuffs shareholder nuns; says S&W guns used in violent crimes not hurting reputation