Smith & Wesson Blames Increasing Gun Violence in the US on “Politicians & Lobbying Partners in the Media”
Edited by: TJVNews.com
As gun violence continues unabated in the United States, much attention has been given the role of firearms manufacturers.
It was recently reported that the Chief Executive Officer of one such manufacturer has voiced his views on the ubiquitous nature of gun violence in the United States. According to a CBS News report, Mark Smith, the CEO of Smith & Wesson is faulting “politicians and their lobbying partners in the media” for increased gun violence across the U.S., saying weapons manufacturers are being unfairly blamed.
Last Monday, Smith posted his written comments on Smith & Wesson’s web site. CBS News reported that the comments came in the aftermath of Smith’s refusal to offer testimony before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the firearms industry in the wake of multiple mass shootings. The report indicated that the congressional panel began its investigation in late May after a total of 31 people died in mass shootings at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, within a two-week period.
Chairing the panel is Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, who has subpoenaed Smith & Wesson for information about the manufacture, sale and marketing of the military-style semi-automatic rifles used in the shootings.
Citing data provided by manufacturers, the panel found that in addition to four other gun manufacturers, Smith & Wesson has brought in over $1 billion over the last decade in sales of guns to civilians, the CBS report indicated.
For Smith & Wesson’s part, their CEO stated the following:
“A number of politicians and their lobbying partners in the media have recently sought to disparage Smith & Wesson. Some have had the audacity to suggest that after they have vilified, undermined and defunded law enforcement for years, supported prosecutors who refuse to hold criminals accountable for their actions, overseen the decay of our country’s mental health infrastructure, and generally promoted a culture of lawlessness, Smith & Wesson and other firearm manufacturers are somehow responsible for the crime wave that has predictably resulted from these destructive policies.”
Smith added that, “They are the ones to blame for the surge in violence and lawlessness, and they seek to avoid any responsibility for the crisis of violence they have created by attempting to shift the blame to Smith & Wesson, other firearm manufacturers and lawabiding gun owners. It is no surprise that the cities suffering most from violent crime are the very same cities that have promoted irresponsible, soft-on-crime policies that often treat criminals as victims and victims as criminals.
Many of these same cities also maintain the strictest gun laws in the nation. But rather than confront the failure of their policies, certain politicians have sought more laws restricting the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, while simultaneously continuing to undermine our institutions of law and order. And to suppress the truth, some now seek to prohibit firearm manufacturers and supporters of the 2nd Amendment from advertising products in a manner designed to remind law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutional right to bear arms in defense of themselves and their families.
To be clear, a Smith & Wesson firearm has never broken into a home; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never assaulted a woman out for a late-night run in the city; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never carjacked an unsuspecting driver stopped at a traffic light.
Instead, Smith & Wesson provides these citizens with the means to protect themselves and their families.
We are proud of our 170-year history. We are proud of the commitment of our employees to making a quality product. We are proud to provide law-abiding citizens and law enforcement – our customers – with the tools to provide for their security and independence. We are proud of our responsible business practices.
We will continue to work alongside law enforcement, community leaders and lawmakers who are genuinely interested in creating safe neighborhoods. We will engage those who genuinely seek productive discussions, not a means of scoring political points. We will continue informing law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutionally-protected right to defend themselves and their families. We will never back down in our defense of the 2nd Amendment.”
In an e-mail sent to CBS MoneyWatch on Thursday, Rep. Maloney responded to Smith’s comments by saying: “It is unconscionable that Smith & Wesson is still refusing to take responsibility for selling the assault weapons used to massacre Americans. Clearly, Smith & Wesson will do anything to protect the enormous profits it collects selling deadly assault weapons. The committee will not permit Smith & Wesson to dodge accountability or obscure the gun industry’s role in fueling our nation’s gun violence epidemic.”
