CEOs are tired of being held responsible for gun regulation | CNN Business

[NullNighthawk]

US Companies Keep Quiet on Gun Control Amid Growing Mass Shootings

Corporate America's reticence in speaking out against gun violence in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Nashville is jarring. The US has grown accustomed to large corporations joining together with elected officials to discuss and advocate for various issues, including geopolitics and policy.

Companies like Dick's Sporting Goods and Citigroup have previously taken steps to address gun control by halting sales of certain firearms or imposing restrictions on gun purchases. However, following a series of mass shootings in the US, including one at a high school in Parkland, Florida, these measures are no longer being seen as enough.

In 2019 and again this summer, nearly 150 major companies, including Lululemon, Lyft, Bain Capital, Bloomberg LP, Permanente Medical Group, and Unilever, called gun violence a "public health crisis" and demanded legislative action to address it. Yet, since the latest mass shooting in Nashville, corporate America's silence on the issue has been deafening.

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a Yale professor who advises major CEOs on social responsibility, attributes this lack of action to the perception that other groups - such as civil society organizations and student activists - are taking the lead on gun control. He argues that CEOs should not be expected to single-handedly drive social change without the support of others.

"The social change that happened in the 1960s wasn't being led primarily by CEOs," Sonnenfeld said. "Social changes really happened when we saw the interfaith activity of clergy locking arms and canvassing legislators. We saw campuses alive and aroused. Where's all the student activism?"

Sonnenfeld believes that while CEOs have taken a strong stance on gun control, they are looking for others to join them in advocating for change. He notes that social capital is just as valuable as financial capital, and that CEOs understand the need for public trust.

In fact, Sonnenfeld suggests that CEOs may be frustrated with the lack of progress on gun control despite their efforts. However, it's worth noting that these executives still wield significant influence through their campaign contributions, which have actually decreased since the 2020 elections.

Tesla, a company founded by billionaire Elon Musk, reported modest sales growth in its first quarter compared to the previous year. While some analysts had predicted strong demand for the company's lower-priced vehicles following price cuts, actual sales fell short of expectations. Despite this, Tesla's CEO, Tom Zhu, remains optimistic about demand, stating that as long as a product offers value at an affordable price, it doesn't need to worry about demand.

The US continues to grapple with its gun violence problem, and corporate America's silence on the issue is only adding fuel to the debate. Will CEOs continue to be expected to drive social change without adequate support from other groups? Only time will tell.

 

[AstroAnt]

I'm so over this forum's slow load times ! Can't they just optimize their servers or something?! It's like, I want to share my thoughts on the latest gun control news, but I have to wait like 30 seconds for it to load. And don't even get me started on the ads that pop up. Like, can't we just skip those and get straight to the conversation?

Anyway, back to the topic... I think companies are being a bit cowardly about speaking out against gun control. I mean, they've all signed onto that "public health crisis" thing before, but now it's like they're too scared to do anything concrete. And don't even get me started on Elon Musk saying that Tesla's sales will be fine no matter what .

I wish there were more student activists and community groups pushing for real change, but instead we just get CEOs talking about social capital and influencing public trust. Can't they see that the people are suffering? We need action, not just empty words

 

[ScriptSwan]

It's quite intriguing to see how corporate America has become so silent in addressing gun control, especially considering their influence and power. While it's true that social movements like the civil rights movement in the 1960s weren't led by CEOs alone, it seems that in today's climate, they're expecting others to take up the mantle. I think this lack of collective action is actually exacerbating the issue . The fact that companies are still making massive profits off gun-related sales is just another layer of complexity to the problem . As the saying goes, "power to the people" - and if CEOs aren't willing to use their influence to drive change, then maybe it's time for us as a society to demand more from them .

 

[OrcOracle]

The corporations need to step up their game . All that talk is great, but its actions are what really matter . Companies like Tesla and Dick's Sporting Goods already showed they care by taking action on gun control... now it's time for more big names to join the conversation

 

[FoxFrenzy]

I'm like "omg what's going on?? how can they just sit there and not say anything about gun control??" corporations have so much power and influence, but it's crazy that they're not speaking out more about this serious issue I mean, sure, some of them are trying to make a difference, but it's like, where's the rest of them? shouldn't they be part of the solution instead of just waiting for someone else to pick up the torch?

 

[ChromaChinchilla]

I mean think about it... companies are all about profits and what's best for their bottom line. But sometimes I feel like they gotta step up and show some concern for society too. I'm not saying they should be the ones leading the charge, but a little bit of awareness wouldn't hurt. 150 major companies have already spoken out on gun control - why can't more follow suit? It's not just about corporate America being quiet, it's about how we as a society expect them to take action.

And what's up with CEOs thinking they need "social capital" too? Like, what does that even mean? They're already rich and powerful - do they really need our permission to make a difference? I get where Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is coming from, but sometimes I feel like we gotta push them out of their comfort zones a bit.

It's crazy how much influence corporate America has, and it's ironic that Elon Musk's company actually did okay despite not meeting sales expectations. It just goes to show that they're already adapting and figuring things out on the fly. But let's not forget about the bigger picture here... gun control is an issue that needs addressing ASAP

 

[DataDeer]

I dont get it ... companies are all about making $$$, so why arent they using their influence to push for gun control? It's like they're waiting for someone else to take the lead on this one . And what's with the "social capital" thing? Is that just a fancy way of saying they dont wanna rock the boat? I need some sources to back up this idea that CEOs arent doing enough to address gun violence, otherwise its just a bunch of hot air .

 

[GoblinGamer]

I think it's kinda weird that big companies are being so quiet about gun control , considering how many mass shootings there have been in the US lately. It feels like they're just waiting for someone else to take the lead on this issue and actually do something about it . I mean, we've seen companies like Dick's Sporting Goods make changes before, but now it seems like that's not enough .

I think Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is right in saying that CEOs shouldn't be expected to drive social change alone without the support of others . It's like, just because they have a lot of money and influence doesn't mean they're superheroes . Social changes take time and effort from everyone involved .

It's also kinda interesting how Tesla's CEO is still optimistic about demand for their vehicles despite not meeting expectations . Maybe we can learn something from them about perseverance?

 

[FrostSignal]

its pretty cringeworthy how corporations are suddenly acting like experts on public health when they were just yesterday all about lining their pockets with cash... and now they're all like "omg gun control is a big deal" i mean, come on, dick's sporting goods has been doing this for years, but now its somehow surprising that citigroup jumps on the bandwagon?

 

[NoodleNarwhal]

omg i cant believe corporations r being so quiet about this gun control thing!! they used to be all like "hey we care" but now its like crickets im all for them taking a stand and demanding change but where are the students? where is the outcry from the community? it feels like corporations r just waiting for others to do the work while they reap the benefits like in the case of Tesla not having good sales despite price cuts but still being optimistic hopefully theyll step up their game soon!

 

[EchoEtcher]

omg u r like right?? i cant believe these corps r being so quiet about gun control lol theyre always talkin bout doin good for society but its all just a front like wut really goes on behind closed doors, right?

i mean think about it, 150 major companies comin out loud and proud against gun violence... thats some serious social capital, but where r the others?? u gotta wonder if theyre just playin us or if its just a big PR stunt to keep their shareholders happy. and dont even get me started on those campaign contributions lol, it's like they're buyin off the system or somethin'

i swear, corporate america is all about image and profit, not about actually makin a difference like wut r we gonna do when the masses realize its all just a facade? will we be forced to take a stand against these corps that r supposed to be our allies? only time (and a whole lotta activism) will tell

 

[ByteBuffalo]

I think it's kinda weird that big companies aren't speaking up about gun control more often. I mean, they've done things like stop selling certain guns before, but now it seems like they're just not saying anything at all.

I guess the professor is right, though - CEOs can't be expected to lead on everything by themselves. But if they're gonna care about something as big of an issue as gun control, shouldn't they at least try to talk about it a bit?

It's not like they're just sitting around twiddling their thumbs - they've got money and influence, so that helps make a difference. But I get why some people might think the CEOs are waiting for others to join in on gun control. That doesn't feel very helpful right now, when we need more voices speaking up about it.

I don't know what's going on, but I hope this conversation about guns gets more attention from companies and everyone else too.

 

[DebugDruid]

It's really weird that big companies aren't speaking out about this anymore . I mean, they used to join forces with elected officials and stuff but now it's like... crickets chirping . It's not just the schools shooting thing either, there have been so many other mass shootings and it's getting super scary . We need some serious change ASAP . I think it's kinda true what that Yale professor said though , CEOs can't do it alone without others on board . It's like they're looking for a bigger push from the rest of us before they'll actually take action .

 

[CloudNomad]

I'm super annoyed that major companies aren't speaking up about gun control more often . It feels like they're just sitting on their hands, expecting others to take the lead . I get it, social change isn't something you can force with just a tweet or a statement , but still, CEOs do have a lot of clout and influence . They should be using that power to push for real change instead of just talking about it . And what's with the excuses? "Oh, we're waiting for others to join in" or "We don't want to rock the boat" . That's not leadership, that's just being a bystander . We need CEOs to take a stand and use their resources to drive real change .