Nutter proposes divestment from gun makers, sellers that don't follow his 20 "Sandy Hook Principles"
Mayor Nutter on Tuesday announced a plan to force gun manufacturers and retailers to adhere to a list of 20 "Sandy Hook Principles" or face divestment from Philadelphia and, he hopes, other cities and organizations across the country.
Nutter proposes divestment from gun makers, sellers that don't follow his 20 "Sandy Hook Principles"
Sean Collins Walsh
Paging Rush Limbaugh.
Mayor Nutter on Tuesday announced a plan to force gun manufacturers and retailers to adhere to a list of 20 “Sandy Hook Principles” or face divestment from Philadelphia and, he hopes, other cities and organizations across the country.
“Americans have economic power in how we choose to spend and invest our money. We can and should use that power to send a very strong message that irresponsible corporate behavior will not be tolerated,” Nutter said at a press conference.
The requirements, based on the Sullivan Principles that sparked a divestment movement against South Africa’s Apartheid regime, include “develop and implement technology-enhanced safety measures for guns” and “support and promote a requirement that all background check data be shared by all federal agencies.”
Nutter, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said he hopes that cities like Los Angeles and Chicago will follow suit and that a broad movement of divestment against what he views as irresponsible weapons companies will take place.
Asked whether he fears a conservative backlash (similar to what happened when liberal groups protested Chik-fil-A and ended up sparking a mass show of support for the fast-food company by their opponents), Nutter said now is not the time to worry about what others will do but to take action with the tools that cities have.
To start the process, Nutter is asking the city Pension Board to review its portfolio, find companies that might be in violation of the principles and notify them that they have to make changes.
- Assault is a behavior, not a device. But you just go ahead and blame the tool, Sunshine. Who's the moron?
— Genghis - There were no assault weapons used during this horrific event. Stop trying to use such a tragic moment to scare people and to push your agendas.— byoak
- who does this guy think he is.Now he is dictating about what is right and wrong.How about you pay the fireman and city workers what there due that is right isnt it ? No because you have napolian syndrome and you have all the answers.I cant wait to sign the impeachment petition that the fop is starting.— cityslicker
- Great idea, Michael, you're doing so well managing the City's finances now. Maybe you can divert that money to something that actually is beneficial to your humble citizens, like paying the Firefighters.— blipster
- Does anyone think that by outlawing or limiting guns will prevent someone from getting a gun for their misaligned purposes? We cannot stop drug-dealers from selling drugs to our children, what make's you think that when guns are illegal that the criminal enterprise system such as street gangs, drug cartels or the Italian and Russian Mob's from filling the void? Sandy Hook was a tragedy, but grand stand politicking will just make the problem even worse, not better. Sad to say that the only answer to the gun problem, in this particular situation, is better parenting. If the Sandy Hook shooter actually had two concerned and sensible parents at home, this particular tragedy most likely would never of occurred. That other tragedy in Denver was another story, with another set of specific needs to prevent from occurring.— BigE
- These politicians avoid the real problem, the criminals committing horrible acts.— dcn
Comment removed.- I would like to see gun violence satistics broken down by race. Now wouldn't that be interresting!— robwood
- Comment removed.
- My God these people are idiots. Will someone one time blame the shooter. What is wrong with them ? Start looking at the people who cause these crimes. Stop blaming the guns. It's too easy.— jsindaco
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- This comment has been deleted.— ComeAndTakeIt
- Now why would anyone object to you owning a gun? — carl and sons
- Learning from his Master - never let a crisis go to waste, and certainly never let the facts get in the way of pushing your Leftist agenda.— Beethoven987
- Nutter is a pathetic joke. He blames guns...guns can't blame back. The real answer to the City's Crime problems/Murder rates is State Parolees, but Nutter won't stand up to the Harrisburg Corruption! No matter how many of us get murdered, no matter how many families are destroyed! You want us to "Step-Up" Mr. Mayor? We want you to "Step-Off"! Oh, and damn you for never failing to take advantage of a tragedy for your own political gain! All this is "Feel Good" legislation that isn't addressing the real problems..i.e. School Security and mental health info (which most states don't) put into the gun screening/background checks! AND PLEASE NOTE... if the U.S. is changing it's mind on gun ownership... Why are the guns "Flying Off The Shelves" EVERYWHERE! ???
One last point... why has there never been a widely publizised study/story on how guns have prevented crimes and save lives and families?— John Law
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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