Investor BlackRock sends questionnaire to gun makers, sellers

By Daniel Terrill

A snowy start to spring for BlackRock in 2015. Although the company manages $6.3 trillion, only about 0.01 percent is invested in the gun industry. (Photo: BlackRock/Facebook)
The world’s largest money manager, BlackRock Inc, posted a list of questions asking gun makers and sellers to provide insight into their policies and practices for selling firearms.
BlackRock’s notice is the latest in corporate activism since last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, left 17 people dead and 15 others injured. The national movement to advance gun control has influenced dozens of companies with ties to the gun industry to reshape policies and relationships.
“For manufacturers and retailers of civilian firearms, we believe that responsible policies and practices are critical to their long-term prospects. Now more so than ever,” BlackRock said in a statement Friday, adding it had reached out to publicly traded gun makers and retail chains to begin a dialogue.
Although BlackRock manages $6.3 trillion for investors worldwide, only about 0.01 percent is invested in the gun industry. Since most gun companies are privately owned, the questions are primarily directed at three companies: American Outdoor Brands, Vista Outdoor, and Sturm, Ruger & Company.
In addition to the questionnaire, BlackRock said it will also offer financial

Source: Guns.com