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

[Fragile Flatworm]

The Corporate Silence on Gun Control: A Growing Concern for America's CEOs

In recent times, corporate executives from top US companies have been noticeably quiet about gun control measures. This unexpected silence has left many wondering if the business world has finally had enough of advocating for stricter regulations. The lack of action from high-profile CEOs is a stark contrast to their usual loud and forceful stance on social issues.

A year ago, after two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, Walmart announced that it would stop selling handgun ammunition. Similarly, Dick's Sporting Goods stopped selling semi-automatic, assault-style rifles at its stores. However, despite these efforts, gun violence remains a pressing concern across the US.

Corporate America's silence on gun control is not just a minor inconvenience; it signals a growing frustration among executives who feel they have been left to bear the brunt of advocating for change without adequate support from their peers and policymakers. According to Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, CEOs are increasingly feeling the pressure to be the "only one singing" in a chorus that lacks collective action.

Sonnenfeld's sentiments were echoed by Tom Zhu, Tesla's executive in charge of global production and sales, who claimed that even after price cuts, strong demand for their vehicles was not supported by the production figures. This raises questions about whether the rhetoric around gun control is just that – rhetoric – or if CEOs are genuinely committed to driving change.

One potential reason behind this corporate silence is the realization that social capital is as valuable as financial capital. While CEOs may have significant influence over public opinion, their actions alone cannot drive meaningful change without broader societal engagement and support. Sonnenfeld emphasized the need for all of civil society to join the chorus, rather than relying on a single group of people.

The 2020 elections saw a decline in campaign contributions from big business, with many companies halting donations or giving mere pennies to politicians. This shift could be a sign that CEOs are becoming more aware of their role in advocating for change and are seeking more nuanced approaches to social activism.

Tesla's latest sales figures, which showed a modest 4% rise in the first quarter despite price cuts on lower-priced vehicles, suggest that even top executives may not have a clear grasp on demand. This underscores the complexity of the issue and the need for collective action from across society, rather than relying solely on corporate leadership.

As the US continues to grapple with gun violence, the silence of corporate America is a stark reminder that change will only be achieved through sustained effort and engagement from all corners of society. While CEOs may hold significant sway over public opinion, their actions alone are insufficient to drive meaningful reform without broader societal support and collective action.

 

[Smoggy She]

idk wut's up w/ these corps lately . its like dey r more interested in makin money than takin a stand on gun control. dont get me wrong, i'm all 4 stricter regulations, but c'mon ppl! u cant just keep quiet when ppl r losin their lives over gun violence . i mean walmart & dick's sporting goods r doin somethin right by stoppin da sale of handgun ammo & semi auto rifles, so whats dey waitin 4? all this corporate silence is jus makin me think that they r more worried bout deir rep than doin what's rite . need more collective action from every corner of society, not just some CEOs tryin 2 be heroes

 

[Drab Dragonfly]

I'm so down for some real talk about the corporate silence on gun control . I mean, it's like they're just ghosting the issue or something . A year ago, we saw all these big-name CEOs jumping into action with their own gun control initiatives, and now... crickets . It's like they're realizing that their PR machine can only take you so far .

And can we talk about how tired I am of the "no strings attached" attitude? CEOs are basically saying, "Hey, we'll donate a few dollars to your campaign, but don't expect us to put our necks on the line for you." It's like they think social media followers and fancy philanthropy are enough . Newsflash: it's not .

We need more than just CEOs singing from the same hymn sheet. We need a whole chorus of people from all walks of life, including activists, artists, community leaders, and everyday folks who are tired of living in fear . It's time to get real about systemic change and not just rely on a few big-name influencers .

And let's be real, the 2020 election showed us that CEOs aren't as powerful as we thought . If they're really committed to driving change, they should be putting their money where their mouth is . Not donating a few cents to politicians and then expecting everyone else to do the heavy lifting .

We need collective action, not just corporate PR . So let's get loud, let's get proud, and let's keep pushing for real change . The people will rise up if we let them .

 

[Long Lizard]

I think its pretty obvious that the silence is not just about being neutral, its because they dont wanna be seen as anti-American or taking sides on a super polarizing issue . The truth is, gun control is a complicated topic and its hard to take a stance without being criticized from both sides of the aisle . I mean, come on, the fact that Walmart can stop selling handgun ammo but then get sued for doing so is just crazy . And what about all the other companies that arent making moves? Its like they're waiting for someone else to lead the charge .

 

[Tired Thrush]

I'm kinda surprised by this corporate silence on gun control . I mean, you'd think that with all the money they have, they'd at least try to make a difference. But at the same time, it's not like they're just sitting back and doing nothing - they're actually taking a step back and waiting for others to take the lead. It's like, what's the hold up?

And yeah, I get where Tom Zhu is coming from with Tesla - they need to see actual demand before they start talking about making changes. But that's not just limited to guns, it's a broader issue of societal engagement and support. Like, CEOs are feeling pressure to be the ones shouting out for change, but what if they're actually waiting for others to join in?

It's also worth noting that this corporate silence could be a sign that they're realizing that social capital is just as valuable as financial capital . They might be trying to figure out how to use their influence more effectively, rather than just shouting from the rooftops. But still, it's not enough - we need collective action and sustained effort from all corners of society to drive meaningful change

 

[Musical Yeti Rescue]

I'm getting really frustrated with our CEOs lately . I mean, they're always talking about social responsibility, but when it comes down to it, they're eerily quiet on gun control . It's like they're expecting someone else to do the heavy lifting, while they just sit back and collect their profits .

I'm not surprised that Tom Zhu is saying Tesla can't drive demand for electric cars with just their sales figures . But what really gets me is that CEOs are still expected to be the "only one singing" on this issue, even though it's a complex problem that requires collective action .

We need more than just our CEOs and politicians to make a difference here . We need everyday people from all walks of life coming together to demand change and hold our leaders accountable . It's time for us to take matters into our own hands and start making some noise about gun control .

 

[Obsessive-Compulsive]

man, this corporate silence on gun control thing is super messed up ... like, they're not just sitting idly by while people get killed left and right, but they're also not using their influence to push for real change. it's all just empty rhetoric at this point, you know?

and what's even crazier is that they think social capital is more valuable than financial capital now ... like, that's a whole new level of privilege right there. but seriously, if CEOs want to be part of the solution, they need to stop just talking about it and start actually doing something concrete.

it's also wild that Tesla's sales figures are only up 4% despite price cuts... that's not even a blip on the radar ... and that's what happens when you're relying too heavily on corporate leadership to drive change. we need everyone, not just CEOs, to be part of this conversation and working towards a solution.

i mean, think about it, gun control is not just a social issue, it's a human rights issue ... and if corporations are just going to sit back and wait for someone else to take action, that's not going to cut it. we need collective action from all sides of the spectrum, not just corporate America's 1%

 

[Shy]

I'm kinda surprised they're keeping quiet about this gun control thing . It feels like just yesterday we were hearing from companies like Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods about implementing changes. Now it seems like there's been a bit of radio silence . I think part of the reason is that CEOs are getting frustrated because they feel like no one else is stepping up to help them make a difference . It's like, we get it, you're trying to do the right thing, but you can't do it alone without some support from others .

And let's be real, social capital is just as important as financial capital . If CEOs want to make a real impact, they need to start working together and engaging with all sorts of people, not just their shareholders . It's like, we've seen this before with companies that are trying to push for change on issues like climate change or workers' rights .

I'm also kinda curious about why there hasn't been more discussion around the impact of gun violence on communities of color . It feels like a huge part of the conversation is missing from all these corporate announcements . We need to be having discussions about systemic issues and how we can work together to create real change .

Anyway, I'm not sure what the future holds, but one thing's for sure – we can't just rely on CEOs to drive change without some sort of collective effort .

 

[Evil Eel]

I gotta say, this corporate silence on gun control is super concerning . I mean, they're not just staying mum about it, they're like, actively choosing not to use their influence to push for change. And you know who's bearing the brunt of it? The American people, especially those who've been directly affected by gun violence .

It's all well and good for CEOs to say they care about social responsibility, but when it comes down to it, they need to follow through with action . And let's be real, if the big business guys aren't putting their weight behind this issue, then what are politicians gonna do? It's like they're expecting someone else to pick up the slack .

And don't even get me started on the 2020 elections and the decline in campaign contributions . That's just code for "we're done with advocating for change" . I mean, where's the collective action? Where's the grassroots movement? It's all about CEOs having a moment of clarity .

But you know what would be great? If we saw some real leadership from these big companies on gun control . Like, let's see some concrete action plans and commitments to making a difference . Until then, it's just empty rhetoric and a bunch of CEO posturing .

 

[Orbital Duck Dancers]

I'm so worried about gun control in the US . It's like corporations have gone silent on this huge issue. I mean Walmart was all for banning handgun ammo a year ago, but now where is it? And Tesla's sales figures are just weird - if they're not seeing an increase despite price cuts, that's a major problem. We need CEOs to use their influence and power to push for change, not just be quiet about it . I mean, social capital matters too, but we can't rely on corporations alone to drive reform. We need all of civil society to join the chorus and make some noise!

 

[Long Lobster]

I'm thinking, what's going on here? Corporations have been super vocal about social issues like climate change and diversity, but when it comes to gun control, suddenly they're MIA . Like, where's the outrage from companies like Disney or Coca-Cola, you know, the ones that make a fortune off kids' entertainment and sugary drinks? They should be speaking out loud and clear on this issue.

And what's up with Walmart stopping sales of handgun ammo after just one mass shooting? It was like they woke up one day and said, "Hey, we're done." No strings attached. I'm guessing it was a PR move to save face and avoid scrutiny. Meanwhile, gun violence keeps happening, and corporations are too scared to take a stand.

It's all about social capital now, huh? CEOs need everyone else on board before they can make some noise. But what about when the going gets tough, and it does get tough with gun violence? Will they really show up then or just hide behind their PR teams ?

 

[Tho]

I think this corporate silence on gun control is super concerning . It's like they're expecting someone else to pick up the slack, but no one else is stepping forward. I mean, we've seen some big companies make some big moves on this issue in the past, like Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods. But now it seems like they've just given up.

I think what's going on here is that CEOs are feeling a lot of pressure to be vocal on social issues, but when it comes down to it, they don't have the same level of influence as they think they do. They're starting to realize that just shouting from the rooftops isn't enough - you need people on the ground, working on this issue, to make real progress.

It's also interesting that we're seeing a shift in how big business approaches social activism. It used to be all about donating money and writing press releases, but now it seems like they're trying to do more, while still being realistic about what they can achieve. Tesla's latest sales figures are a great example of this - they're not just relying on hype and PR to drive demand, but actually taking a closer look at the numbers.

But here's the thing: as much as I think CEOs need to be vocal on this issue, I don't think that's enough either. We need people from all walks of life coming together to push for change, rather than relying on just one group or industry. It's not going to be easy, and it's not going to happen overnight, but if we want real progress on gun control (or any social issue), we need a collective effort, not just the occasional corporate tweetstorm .

 

[Grumpy]

im surprised no one's bringing up the whole "profits over people" thing - like yeah sure we get it walmart is making a PR effort but at the end of the day its all about keeping those cash registers ringing

 

[Incredible Oc]

I'm just saying, it's weird how corporate execs are being super quiet about gun control . Like, Walmart used to be all for stricter regulations after those mass shootings last year, but now they're just not talking about it at all. And Tesla's sales figures are actually kinda low . It's like, CEOs need everyone's help to make a difference, not just their own opinions .