Major Firearms Manufacturer Responds to Persecution by Anti-Gun Leftists

America's largest firearms manufacturer — Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. — is fighting back against the radical anti-gun leftists who seek to vilify lawful firearms manufacturers.

Manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson are a key part of Americans' ability to exercise their constitutionally protected Second Amendment rights across this nation.

In a statement issued yesterday, Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith took on recent attacks directed at the firearms industry and challenged them:

“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.” 

Anti-gun leftists in Congress have been targeting gun manufacturers in recent months, doubling down in their attacks on firearm producers after passing radical legislation earlier this summer that targeted law-abiding gun owners, all in the misguided attempt to stem their so-called “epidemic of gun violence” which they see as a key issue plaguing Americans. (RELATED: Biden Signs Congressional Gun Control Package)

After passing their far-reaching gun control package aimed at firearm owners in June, Congress then set its sights on manufacturers.

As I reported in American Liberty News at the time, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) sent letters to the heads of three major gun manufacturers — Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.; Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. and Daniel Defense, LLC.

Maloney summoned them to appear at a hearing meant to “examine the role of the firearms industry in the gun violence epidemic, including with respect to the sale and marketing of assault weapons and the broad civil immunity that has been granted to manufacturers.”

Smith & Wesson was subpoenaed earlier this month by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairwoman Maloney, after Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith declined to appear voluntarily at last month's congressional hearing.

In the statement issued along with the subpoena, Democrats on the Oversight Committee wrote the following:

“In light of Smith & Wesson's refusal to comply voluntarily with the Committee's inquiry, Chairwoman Maloney issued a subpoena to obtain key information necessary to the investigation, including the revenue and profits Smith & Wesson is making from AR-15-style rifles, internal analysis and assessments related to the safety of its products and marketing practices, and internal communications involving the CEO and other top executives discussing recent mass shootings carried out with the company's weapons.”

In other words, the House Oversight Committee explicitly admitted that it is grossly abusing its power to politically persecute a massively successful private business just because they don't agree with them ideologically.

Thankfully, Smith & Wesson aren't in this fight alone.

Mark Olivia, Public Affairs Director at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the premier representative for firearms manufacturers — told American Liberty News the following:

“NSSF stands with Smith & Wesson President and CEO Mark Smith's statement that correctly calls attention to Congress's unwillingness to address the need for holding criminals accountable for their actions and the wrongful policies that have enabled crime rates to soar.

NSSF has been telling Congress that criminals are responsible for their wrongful actions and efforts to vilify and malign the firearm industry are counterproductive. The facts are clear. More than 21 million background checks were conducted for the sale of a firearm in 2020 and another 18.5 million were completed in 2021. For 36 months straight, there have been over 1 million FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) approvals for the legal sale of a firearm. Americans are exercising their Second Amendment in record numbers.

Congress knows that the firearm industry does not market or sell firearms to criminals. This industry provides the tools for our law enforcement to protect our communities, the military to protect our nation and for law-abiding citizens to exercise their God-given Second Amendment rights and protect themselves and their families. Our industry is unapologetically proud to support those who follow the law and exercise their rights.”

The fight for gun rights is not always a popular one to be in but groups like NSSF and Smith & Wesson are continuing to fight to preserve Second Amendment rights for future generations of Americans.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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