What do bread, butter and bullets all have in common? Depending on where you shop, they may all be sold by the same company.
I’d like to invite you to join Stop Handgun Violence in boycotting Shaw’s, Star Market, Albertson’s, Acme and Osco Drugs. But first, I’d like to explain why.
Shaw’s, Star Market, Albertson’s, Acme and Osco Drug are all owned by the parent company and Wall St. private equity firm, Cerberus Capital Management. Cerberus is also the owner of Freedom Group (sometimes referred to as Remington Outdoor Company). Over the last eight years, Freedom Group has acquired a variety of firearm and ammunition manufacturers, including Bushmaster, Remington, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, The Parker Gun, Mountain Khakis, Advanced Armament Corp., Dakota Arms, Para USA and Barnes Bullets. As a result of these acquisitions Freedom Group now represents about 20% of the firearm and accessory industry.
Guns manufactured by Freedom Group have been used in multiple mass shootings since the company began acquiring manufacturers. For example, the Washington Naval Yard shooter, Aaron Alexis, used a Remington 870 shotgun, the D.C. snipers and Newtown, Conn., Sandy Hook Elementary School shooters both used a Bushmaster AR 15 assault rifle and the Webster, New York shooter used a Bushmaster semiautomatic rifle when he killed volunteer firefighters responding to a fire.
After the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook, Cerberus vowed to sell off Freedom Group and divest itself from the firearm industry. Instead, the company has profited from increased sales and has had zero accountability for its promise.
We are asking you to join us as we take action and vote with our wallets. Please download, print and sign this letter and bring it to your local Shaw’s, Star Market, Osco, Acme or Albertsons store Manager. Tell them why your family’s new diet will be gun-industry-free.
This is a great opportunity to think globally and act locally, at least until Cerberus divests itself from making killing machines, such as the Bushmaster AR 15 used to massacre innocent children and caregivers at Sandy Hook.
Thank you very much for your consideration and continued support!