Hundreds of Top CEOs Urge Congress to Pass Gun-Control Legislation to Address ‘Public Health Crisis’

Over 220 CEOs of major companies will release a letter on Thursday calling on the U.S. Senate to pass stricter gun-control measures.

The letter, obtained by Axios, was organized by gun-control advocacy group Everytown and Levi Strauss & Co., whose CEO Chip Bergh announced a partnership with Everytown in 2018. The letter comes after the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in which 21 people were killed, and a mass shooting in a Buffalo supermarket in which ten people were killed.

Among the signatories of the new letter are the CEOs of Bain Capital, Bloomberg LP, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lululemon, Lyft, Northwell Health, Unilever U.S., and Yelp. Additionally, the CEOs of sports teams the San Francisco Giants, 49ers, and the Philadelphia Eagles are signatories.

The letter does not specify any particular legislative proposals and casts gun violence as a “public health crisis” that harms the economy.

“Taken together, the gun violence epidemic represents a public health crisis that continues to devastate communities – especially Black and Brown communities – and harm our national economy,” the letter states. “All of this points to a clear need for action: the Senate must take urgent action to pass bold gun safety legislation as soon as possible in order to avoid more death and injury.”

“Gun violence costs American taxpayers, employers and communities a staggering $280 billion per year. Employers lose $1.4 million every day in productivity and revenue, and costs associated with victims of gun violence. Communities that experience gun violence struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and see economic growth.”

The House passed legislation on Wednesday to raise the age at which Americans can purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, however the legislation is not expected to pass the Senate.

The letter comes amid backlash among Republicans to corporate activism on various issues, including Georgia’s voting laws and Florida’s parental rights bill.