Bank of America Cuts Ties with AR-15 Makers, Pediatricians Lobby for Gun Control Laws

What are the stories?

• Bank of America will stop lending to companies that manufacture assault-style weapons used for non-military purposes.

• Meanwhile, 350 pediatricians visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to lobby in favor of gun violence legislation, including two Senate bills.

What is the pediatricians’ message?

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Injury, Violence and Poison Prevention (AAP) had three main requests for Congress:

• Provide $50 million to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for public health research into firearm safety and injury prevention.

• Support a minimum purchase age of 21 for semiautomatic assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

• Support a ban on semiautomatic assault weapons.

Why is Bank of America cutting ties with weapons makers?

• "We want to continue in any way we can to reduce these mass shootings," Anne Finucane, vice chairman of Bank of America, said in an interview. "It is our intention not to finance these military-style firearms for civilian use."

• The move comes after the February 14 high school shooting in Parkland, FL, that left 17 dead.

• In March, Citigroup announced plans to "prohibit retail chains that are its customers from offering bump stocks or selling guns to anyone who hasn’t passed a background check or is younger than 21," Fortune wrote.

What do you think?

Do you support banks cutting ties with assault-weapons manufacturers? Do you share the concerns of the AAP? Are there additional steps you’d like banks, or Congress, to take? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

Related Reading

• List of Retailers Enacting Gun Controls Is Growing

• Georgia Lawmakers Punish Delta for Breaking Ties with NRA

(Photo Credit: malerapaso / iStock)