Amid an unprecedented and unjustified attack on the firearm industry, Smith & Wesson President & CEO issues strong statement: pic.twitter.com/6NHztbGIe4
— Smith & Wesson Inc. (@Smith_WessonInc) August 15, 2022
Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith is firing back at Left-leaning politicians and talking heads in the media who are scapegoating the gun industry for the recent spike in murders.
.@bushmaster_inc, @DanielDefense, @sigsauerinc, @Smith_WessonInc, & Ruger manufacture and market weapons of war that have been repeatedly used in horrific, deadly attacks.
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@RepMaloney) May 27, 2022
Today, I'm announcing that @OversightDems is investigating their sales & marketing of assault weapons. https://t.co/O9nlbkwPum pic.twitter.com/vKrkztnlMD
“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 said in a statement released on Monday.
“But 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 law-abiding gun owners,” he continued.
SEE ALSO: Canada’s Handgun Ban Doesn’t Do Anything to Stop Crime
In 2020, the country witnessed a historic spike in murders. Compared to 2019, which averaged about 6 homicides per 100,000 people, there were 7.8 homicides per 100,000 people in 2020, according to Pew Research. That’s a 30 percent jump year-over-year!
“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,” observed Smith.
“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,” he continued.
Mark Smith also made it clear that blame should be placed on the shoulders of the offender, not the gun itself.
“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,” wrote Smith.
Read the full statement below: