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U.S. House panel asks gunmakers to testify amid mass shootings

Published 07/07/2022, 07:14 AM
Updated 07/07/2022, 03:38 PM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A tricycle is seen near the scene of a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade route, in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, U.S. July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Max Herman

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A tricycle is seen near the scene of a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade route, in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, U.S. July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Max Herman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House Oversight Committee has asked the chief executives of three gunmakers to testify on July 20 as part of its investigation into the firearms industry following a wave of high-profile mass shootings, the panel said on Thursday.

The panel called on the CEOs of Smith & Wesson Brands, Sturm, Ruger & Co, as well as privately held Daniel Defense to appear, according to letters sent to the companies released by the panel.

"I am deeply troubled that gun manufacturers continue to profit from the sale of weapons of war, including AR-15-style assault rifles," committee chairwoman Representative Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat, wrote.

"Products sold by your company have been used for decades to carry out homicides and even mass murders, yet your company has continued to market assault weapons to civilians."

Representatives for the gunmakers did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lawmakers gave the CEOs until Friday to respond to the committee.

The panel cited Monday's mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, where a gunman allegedly killed at least seven people and wounded dozens of others with a high-powered rifle.

OVER 200 MASS SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR

Last month, the panel heard from victims and relatives of recent mass shootings at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.

Lawmakers are grappling with a recent spate of deadly attacks across the United States, which has seen more than 200 mass shootings just this year.

A modest bipartisan package of gun reforms was signed into law in late June while the U.S. Supreme Court separately expanded gun owners' rights. Some U.S. states have separately moved to act on guns following the top court's ruling.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A tricycle is seen near the scene of a mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade route, in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, Illinois, U.S. July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Max Herman

The July 20 hearing will look into gun sales and marketing "and the broad civil immunity that has been granted to manufacturers," wrote Maloney.

"Your testimony is crucial to understand why your company continues to sell and market these weapons to civilians, what steps your company plans to take to protect the public, and what additional reforms are needed to prevent further deaths from your products," Maloney wrote in the letters to the CEOs of gunmakers.

Latest comments

I think we can all agree, stop letting whack jobs get guns. Other than that, you can P off.
Yup. Because gun makers are totally responsible for others peoples action. Oh the stupidity.
the second amendment protects the right of a person to carry anything with bullets.
Absolutely correct. By the way, can you tell me where I can get a machine gun?
Right here. https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license
again I'll repeat myself, you are a 🤡 and have zero idea of what you're talking about.
Maloney doesn’t sound too smart. Inferring the weapons are the cause and not the troubled people. Maybe the cause of the troubled people have to do with failed policy? Maybe Maloney should be asked to defend her liberal policies that increase crime and homelessness —-like in Dem cortrolled Illinois ?
I agree, those liberal policies in Texas are just the worst!
Uvalde is fairly liberal in southern Texas. The police department sure was a bunch of snowflakes.
It says so in the constitution. I have the right to bear an AR15. So there.
And a machine gun, and a howitzer and cruise missile and even an atomic bomb, if you can make one. Wait. No? I wonder why that is.
 Here is the link to get your machine gun.  https://www.atf.gov/firearms/apply-license
Don't bother, he's too far gone.
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