A group of senators recently began imploring financial institutions to take a stand against gun violence and establish new guidelines for clients to improve public safety and save lives.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) are among a group of 12 senators who forwarded correspondence to major financial institutions, highlighting the importance of corporate responsibility while encouraging companies to adopt gun safety policies for its business customers.
Following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that claimed the lives of 17 students, teachers, and staff, officials said several major retailers and banks, including Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Citibank and Bank of America announced new policies to address gun violence.
“There is a growing consensus in the private sector that companies can and should take action to address the problem of gun violence in our country,” the senators wrote. “Your company’s leadership to address gun violence after Parkland can and will help save lives by reducing the prevalence of mass shootings in our country.”
The lawmakers said they advocate considerations requiring background checks on all gun sales, raising the minimum age of gun sales to 21; preventing the practice of buyers using other people to purchase guns to conceal their identity; and prohibiting the sale of high-capacity magazines, bump stocks and assault-style weapons.
The correspondence was sent to Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, TD Securities, JPMorgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, US Bancorp, Cowen & Co, BB&T, Regions Financial, BNP Paribas and PNC Financial Services Group.
In addition to Blumenthal and Murphy, the correspondence was signed by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).