The maker of the gun used in the Texas school shooting received $3.1 million in pandemic aid, a report says

• Daniel Defense, which made a gun used in the Texas school shooting, received pandemic aid, per The NYT.
• The gunmaker received $3.1 million in aid in April 2020, according to the outlet.

The arms manufacturer that made the rifle used in the Texas elementary school shooting received $3.1 million in pandemic aid from the US government through the Paycheck Protection Program, the New York Times reported.

The gunmakers, Daniel Defense, received the emergency small business aid in early April 2020, according to the Times. The company was granted the $3.1 million loan days after the fund opened. It was reportedly used to support 200 employees.

Nineteen children and two adults were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by an 18-year-old gunman on May 24. The weapon, which the shooter purchased shortly after his 18th birthday, was made by arms manufacturer, Daniel Defense.

The loan was made by Cadance Bank and overseen by the Small Business Administration, which did not immediately responded to Insider's request for comment made outside usual working hours.

The loan was paid off by the federal government in June 2021 as Daniel Defense met the program's requirements, the Times reported.

Daniel Defense did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside usual working hours.

In a statement posted on its website the company promised to cooperate with federal, state, and local law enforcement. It added: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic events in Texas this week."

The gun and ammunition industry collectively took loans of $125 million during the pandemic, according to the New York Times analysis of government data.