There’s a lot to unpack in ABC News’ tweet about gun sales. First, why was there a House investigation into gun manufacturers’ revenues? Second, what the hell does this mean: “AR-15 style guns sold as a sign of manhood as shootings rise.” Do women not buy AR-15s? And third: What’s wrong with gun manufacturers enjoying increased revenues along with increased sales? If so many people want AR-15s banned, why have sales gone through the roof over the past three years?
Gun manufacturers have made more than $1 billion from selling AR-15-style guns over the past decade, and for two companies those revenues have tripled over the past three years, according to a House investigation. https://t.co/ynAf4sqfxu
— ABC News (@ABC) July 27, 2022
Lindsay Whitehurst reports for the Associated Press:
Gun makers have taken in more than $1 billion from selling AR-15-style guns over the past decade, at times marketing them as a way for young men to prove their masculinity, even as the number of mass shootings increases, according to a House investigation unveiled Wednesday.
The weapons have been used in massacres that have horrified the nation, including one that left 10 people dead at a grocery store in Buffalo and another where 19 children and two teachers were shot to death in Uvalde, Texas.
The Committee on Oversight and Reform said some ads mimic popular first-person shooter video games or tout the weapons’ military pedigree while others claim the guns will put buyers “at the top of the testosterone food chain.”
Those sales tactics are “deeply disturbing, exploitative and reckless,” said Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of New York. “In short, the gun industry is profiting off the blood of innocent Americans.”
And of course, the Brady Campaign gets its two cents in:
While AR-15-style firearms aren’t necessarily the main drivers of U.S. gun violence overall, their design allows shooters to harm more people from a greater distance, said Kelly Sampson, senior counsel and director of racial justice with Brady, a group pressing to end gun violence that generally supports restrictions.
So gun manufacturers are making more money because more people are buying guns.
Good.
— Harry Reems! (@harry_stiglitz) July 27, 2022
Awesome news!! I hope they sell a billion more!
— Sucio Sanchez🇺🇸 (@SucioSanchez6) July 27, 2022
Made in America! I own a few myself
— Brandon Ogstel (@notwrongearly) July 27, 2022
I’m buying another one so y’all so elegantly put this story out.
— Curtis (@CurtisParish) July 27, 2022
Good. Everyone buy more.
— Brittany Hughes (@RealBrittHughes) July 27, 2022
Awesome. I’m glad they’re doing very well. I look forward to buying one myself once I have a safe for it
— Angelo Giuliano (@AngeloG85) July 27, 2022
Great, still a good market for America's most popular rifle.
— Will (@Will11138126) July 27, 2022
Cool. Will buy more in the future to keep those numbers up. 👍🏻
— Jdan (@Jdan_OWaydan) July 27, 2022
America loves AR-15 style guns.
— Beachsandal6495 (@Oregonhotsauce4) July 27, 2022
Yes we do
— marc (@MarcBrody12) July 27, 2022
OK, we read the entire piece and are still not convinced that AR-15s are sold as a sign of manhood. Their claim for that is one tagline from one ad?
Maybe the market for AR-15s would cool down if politicians didn’t keep threatening to ban them.
Related:
Dana Loesch & others analyze Gavin Newsom’s awkward (and unsafe) handling of an AR-15 https://t.co/VsE82Eebhb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 1, 2022
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