+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

One of America's biggest gunmakers spent its earnings call bashing Hillary Clinton and said it plans to donate millions to the NRA

Aug 3, 2016, 22:27 IST

Chris Patrie looks at the Benelli display of shotguns during the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits April 13, 2012Whitney Curtis/Getty Images

One of America's biggest gunmakers is joining the 2016 political fray.

Advertisement

Michael Fifer, CEO of Sturm, Ruger & Co. took a strong political stance during the company's earnings call on Wednesday.

In addition to advocating support for the second amendment of the US Constitution, which gives Americans the right to own guns, Fifer also pledged large donations to the National Rifle Association (NRA), said the company will urge customers to call their members of Congress, discussed the composition of the Supreme Court, and attacked Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

"We hope this call to action inspires our customers and all freedom-loving Americans to take action in support of the second amendment especially in the month leading up to the November election," said Fifer, kicking off the call.

In support of the second amendment, Fifer said Sturm, Ruger & Co. will donate $2 to the NRA for every gun it sells, and will match all donations to the NRA up to $5 million, until the election on November 8.

Advertisement

Additionally, Fifer said the the company is urging customers to get out and vote.

"And perhaps most importantly, we are encouraging our customers and all Americans to have their voice heard and to vote in the November elections," said Fifer.

"I have no doubt about it, the makeup of the Supreme Court is on the ballot this November and therefore the Second Amendment is also firmly on the ballot. We think the NRA crew is institute for legislative action is best positioned to support the key races in the upcoming elections that will affect our firearm rights for decades to come."

While Fifer did not mention a specific candidate that the company's customers should vote for during his prepared remarks, he had critical word for Clinton when asked by an analyst on the call.

When asked if Clinton's possible election would impact sales, Fifer said he couldn't speculate as to how, but did say that Clinton's positions worry the gunmaker.

Advertisement

Here's Fifer (emphasis added):

"I don't think have any way of measuring the political impact or certainly not assigning it to anyone politicians comments, but certainly this is a unique time in our history because for the very first time ever, we have the nominee of a major political party one with a very reasonable likelihood of winning the presidency, overtly stating that the Supreme Court got it wrong in the Heller case and actively campaigning against the lawful Commerce in Arms. That's unprecedented and it will be hard for any of us to believe that didn't have some impact, but it can't be measured."

Fifer is referring to Hillary Clinton's sweeping gun control plan that is a large part of her candidacy. Additionally, Clinton has said that the Heller case, a decision by the Supreme Court in 2008 that struck down many laws governing the use of guns in Washington DC, was "wrong."

Fifer did not mention Republican nominee Donald Trump on the call.

NOW WATCH: Scientists just collected a mysterious 'purple orb' at the bottom of the ocean, but no one could anticipate what happened next

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article