Oversight Committee to Hold Hearing with AR-15 Manufacturers on Their Role in America’s Gun Violence Epidemic

Jul 19, 2022
Press Release
Committee is Investigating Manufacturers’ Aggressive Sales and Marketing of AR-15-Style Rifles and Similar Firearms

Washington D.C. (July 19, 2022)—On Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will hold a hybrid hearing to examine the role of the firearms industry in America’s gun violence epidemic. 

 

“With more than 300 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, and gun violence now the leading cause of death of children in America, it is clear that we are in a public health epidemic,” said Chairwoman Maloney.  “Our hearing will examine the role of gun manufacturers in flooding our communities with weapons of war and fueling America’s gun violence crisis.  It is long past time for the gun industry to be held accountable for the carnage they enable and profit from.”

 

On May 26, 2022, following the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, the Committee sent letters to Daniel Defense, LLC, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., and other manufacturers seeking information on their sale and marketing of AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles and similar firearms, including revenue and profit information, internal data on deaths or injuries caused by firearms they manufacture, and marketing and promotional materials. 

 

On June 8, 2022, the Committee held a historic hearing with survivors and impacted family members from the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York.

 

On July 7, 2022, following the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, Chairwoman Maloney sent letters to the CEOs of gun manufacturers Daniel Defense, LLC, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., and Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., requesting their appearance at a Committee hearing on the urgent issue of gun violence. 

 

This hearing will examine the responsibility that the firearm industry bears in contributing to the gun violence epidemic in the United States and the steps Congress can take to hold manufacturers accountable. 

 

WHAT:  

 

Full Committee hearing entitled “Examining the Practices and Profits of Gun Manufacturers.”

 

WHEN:

Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET

 

WHO:    

 

Christopher Killoy

President and Chief Executive Officer

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

 

Marty Daniel

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Defense, LLC

 

Mark P. Smith (Invited)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.

 

Ryan Busse

Senior Advisor

Giffords Law Center

 

Kelly Sampson

Senior Counsel and Director of Racial Justice

Brady:  United Against Gun Violence

 

WATCH:

A livestream will be available on YouTube and the Committee on Oversight and Reform website.  

 

MEDIA:

  

Seating in the hearing room is limited and as a result, credentialed media must RSVP to the Oversight Committee Democrats Press Office at oversightpress@mail.house.gov no later than 5 p.m. ET on July 26, 2022. 

 

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Issues: 
117th Congress