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Judd Legum Profile picture
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20 Apr, 9 tweets, 4 min read
I wrote about why there are more consumer safety regulations for Teddy Bears - AND TOY GUNS - than for actual guns.

It has nothing to do with the 2nd Amendment

It was a carve out created in the 1970s by a Congressman who was also on the board of the NRA

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
2. In 1972, Congress passed a law specifically prohibiting the CPSC from evaluating the safety of guns

As a result, there "is not a single federally mandated safety standard or child-proofing requirement for firearms made in the United States."

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
3. Firearm safety is regulated by the firearm industry, through a group called the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI).

SAAMI "does not solicit feedback from the public."

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
4. The application of consumer safety standards to cars has not restricted the ability of people to drive. But it has saved countless drives by ensuring that cars are designed to be as safe as possible for drivers, passengers, and the public. popular.info/p/why-the-body…
5. Even more recently, in 2005, Congress provided immunity for the firearm industry from most forms of civil liability

The law prevents gun manufacturers from civil liability resulting from "the criminal or lawful misuse" of firearms or ammunition.

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
6. The law was passed in response to litigation from NYC and other localities alleging the "industry’s selling practices create a public nuisance by allowing guns to be sold in an illegitimate secondary market where they fall into the hands of criminals."

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
7. Civil litigation has prompted significant reform in the tobacco and pharmaceutical industry, but, as a result of this immunity, the gun industry is able to continue with business as usual as the body count mounts

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
8. Civil immunity + no consumer protections have allowed the gun industry to market more deadly guns to the smaller percentage of Americans interested in owning guns at all

This was a legislative choice that has nothing to do with the 2nd Amendment

popular.info/p/why-the-body…
9. The untold story of guns in the United States is the death toll is mounting due to the unchecked corporate power of gun manufacturers.

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More from @JuddLegum

Judd Legum Profile picture
22 Apr
UPDATE: Members of the Texas legislature are seeking retribution against companies like @Dell and @AmericanAir that spoke out against voter suppression legislation.

They are attempting to punish these companies for political speech.

Follow along if interested.
@Dell @AmericanAir 2. GOP TX Rep @TomOliverson has proposed an amendment to the budget requiring corporations to "certify that the business has not publicly opposed any legislation filed in this or another state in 2020 or 2021 related to election integrity" as a condition of receiving grants Image
3. What's remarkable about this is that under @TomOliverson's amendment corporations SUPPORTING voter suppression laws remain eligible for grants. Under this amendment, only opposing legislation in Texas or any other state disqualifies a company.

(Via @DWStrategic)
Read 6 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
21 Apr
1. @SenRickScott is openly using mob-style tactics to pressure corporations to fund Republicans who voted to overturn the election and are now pushing voter suppression legislation

Scott promised "a day of reckoning" when/if Republicans take the Senate

popular.info/p/mob-tactics
@SenRickScott 2. This is what Scott is saying IN PUBLIC. But his tactics are working with a handful of corporations who have resumed funding the @NRSC, which is chaired by Scott.

popular.info/p/mob-tactics
3. @Merck CEO Ken Fraiser has been leading the effort to convince companies to speak out in support of voting rights.

But Merck just gave 15K to the @NRSC, backing a GOP caucus that is obstructing federal legislation to protect voting rights nationwide

popular.info/p/mob-tactics
Read 5 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
20 Apr
UPDATE: In a company obtained by popular.info, @ATT CEO John Stankey says AT&T should not be held accountable for the policy views of the politicians it backs

"It's likely our employee PACs have contributed to policymakers in support of and opposed to any given issue" Image
@ATT .@ATT has donated 574K to the sponsors of Texas' voter suppression bill but refused to speak out against it.

Stankey says "election laws differ from state to state, are varying and complex, not our company’s expertise and ultimately the responsibility of elected officials" Image
@ATT .@ATT's Stankey says he's reluctant to get involved with politics but he now recognizes it's in "AT&T’s long-term interests" for him to advocate centrism. Image
Read 4 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
20 Apr
UPDATE: On 1/12, @PNCBank said it "suspended contributions to those members of Congress who voted against the certification of the nation’s valid Electoral College votes."

On 3/24 PNC donated 15K to the @NRSC, which is chaired by @SenRickScott, who voted against certification
@PNCBank @NRSC @SenRickScott UPDATE: After 1/6, @Intel said it "will not contribute to members of Congress who voted against certification of the Electoral College results."

On 3/2 Intel donated 15K to the @NRSC, which is chaired by @SenRickScott, who voted against certification
@PNCBank @NRSC @SenRickScott @intel On 1/17, @Oracle said that it would "pause contributions to anyone who voted against certifying the November 2020 election results."

On 3/25 Oracle donated $3750 to the @NRSC, which is chaired by @SenRickScott, who voted against certification
Read 8 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
17 Apr
1. Over the last 48 hours, I've reviewed FEC fillings from 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the election

It was the first major FEC deadline since the insurrection

I've analyzed the data & considered what it all means

Follow along if interested

popular.info/p/what-we-lear…
2. BIG TAKEAWAY: nearly all the corporations who said they were suspending donations after January 6 have kept their word

There are exceptions, which we'll get to, but just a handful

popular.info/p/what-we-lear…
3. The # of corporate PACs suspending donations to the 147 GOPers was MUCH LARGER than publicly announced

About 170 companies said they were suspending donations

But of 1100 corporate PACs that donated to this group last cycle, only 70 donated in Q1

popular.info/p/what-we-lear…
Read 13 tweets
Judd Legum Profile picture
15 Apr
UPDATE: @pfizer pledged not to donate to any of the 147 Republican objectors for at least 6 months and then donated $2500 to @RepAdrianSmith, who voted against certification, on 3/17

Pfizer has ignored my inquires about the donation, but I've obtained an internal email w/answers
@pfizer @RepAdrianSmith 2. According to an email obtained by popular.info, @Pfizer says the $2500 donation in March to @RepAdrianSmith, who voted to overturn the election, was "made in error and has been cancelled"
3. There is still the issue of the leadership PAC of @MikeKellyPA, one of the 147 Republican objectors, who reported receiving a 2.5K donation from @Pfizer on 2/11

I'll let you know if I learn more

popular.info/subscribe
Read 4 tweets

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