145 CEOs sent Congress a letter demanding action on gun control

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.” 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...MORE