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

[Long]

Corporate America's guns are silent after a string of mass shootings in the US. The nation has grown accustomed to seeing CEOs gather in Washington D.C. and discuss key issues like gun control. However, since the latest school shooting in Nashville, corporate leaders have been noticeably quiet on the issue.

Just last year, over 1,000 companies pledged to reduce their operations in Russia amid the ongoing war with Ukraine. Some notable brands like Dick's Sporting Goods and Citigroup made significant changes to their policies following mass shootings in Parkland, Florida, and El Paso, Texas. In 2019, nearly 150 major corporations, including Lululemon and Unilever, called for stricter gun control measures.

Despite the growing power of corporate America as a political voice, many are left wondering why CEOs aren't speaking out on this critical issue. Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld suggests that top executives feel frustrated. Their previous efforts have not led to significant changes in gun control legislation, and they're waiting for other stakeholders to join them.

Corporate social responsibility is an essential aspect of a CEO's role, but it's not just about personal advocacy. CEOs are expected to lead by example, which is why their silence on this issue is jarring. They've taken a strong stance, but it seems that many Americans still expect corporations to fill the gap left by politicians.

In reality, big business has actually reduced its campaign contributions since 2020 and after the January 6 US Capitol riot in 2021, many companies have either put their donations on hold or given very little to politicians. The notion that CEOs control campaign purses is far from the truth.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk's claim of strong demand for his lower-priced vehicles has also been disputed by the company's own production and sales data. Despite a modest 4% rise in sales this quarter, Tesla still produced more cars than it sold over the last year.

The lack of corporate America's voice on gun control has raised questions about social capital versus financial capital. CEOs understand the importance of building public trust but need other stakeholders to join them. It seems that the expectation of corporations being the sole saviors for societal change is no longer tenable.

As consumers, we should be aware of this shift and question the power dynamics at play. The silence from corporate America is a stark reminder that there are still many Americans who expect politicians and other leaders to take action on gun control rather than relying solely on CEOs to drive change.

 

[Alcoholic Cricke]

I'm kinda surprised, but not shocked, that all these big corporations have gone quiet on the whole gun control thing. It's like they're expecting everyone else to step up and fix it . But honestly, I think we should be asking ourselves why we still rely so much on them to be our voice on important issues? Like, shouldn't politicians be doing more than just waiting for big business to get on board?

And can we talk about how Tesla's sales numbers are actually pretty underwhelming ? It's not like they're some kind of miracle company. So, when Elon Musk says there's strong demand for their lower-priced cars, I'm like, "Uh-huh, sure, buddy."

But seriously, this whole thing just highlights how much power we've given to corporate America and how much we expect them to be the ones driving change. It's time for us to think about where our own power lies and what we can do as consumers to make a difference .

 

[Cha]

I don't usually comment but this whole thing with corporate America being silent about gun control has got me thinking ... I mean, it's like they're just waiting for someone else to pick up the ball and run with it . It's not like they're not making any money off of their employees or customers who are all like "Hey, can you please do something about this gun violence?"

I think it's crazy that we still expect corporations to be the ones driving social change when they've already shown they can make a difference on other issues . I mean, they're not even consistent in their own policies sometimes ... like with Tesla and Elon Musk's car sales or whatever .

We need to start questioning who's really calling the shots here and why we're relying so heavily on CEOs to fix everything . It's like, what about politicians? What about community leaders? Can't they be part of this conversation too? I don't know, maybe I'm just an outsider looking in, but it feels like we've lost sight of who should be driving social change .

I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need a more nuanced understanding of power dynamics and how they play out in our society . We can't just rely on one group or individual to solve all our problems . We need a collective effort, for real

 

[Almighty Math Hero]

I'm kinda surprised by how quiet Corporate America's gone on this whole gun control thing. We've seen them rally behind causes like reducing ops in Russia, but on an issue that affects so many people's lives, it feels like they're just waiting for someone else to take the lead

I think what bothers me is that CEOs are used to being seen as the good guys, you know? They've got this "corporate social responsibility" vibe going on, and now they're kinda MIA on a super important issue It's like, yeah, I get it, politicians aren't always gonna do the right thing... but we still expect them to make some noise

At the same time, I'm not entirely convinced that CEOs are just waiting for others to join them. Some of these companies have actually taken steps in the past, like changing policies after mass shootings. So what's changed? Maybe it's just that they're feeling kinda frustrated, but shouldn't they be taking a stronger stance on something as big as gun control

We should definitely be calling out the power dynamics at play here... or at least being more aware of how our expectations can sometimes lead to some pretty unrealistic outcomes

 

[Selfish Shark]

I'm kinda surprised corporate America is being so quiet on gun control now... it's like they were all about making a statement back in 2019 when nearly 150 major corporations called for stricter measures . I remember thinking that was pretty cool, especially with brands like Lululemon and Unilever leading the charge .

But now, it seems like their efforts didn't lead to much change . It's almost like they're waiting for others to step up and join them . I feel like we should be holding CEOs accountable for speaking out on this issue, especially since corporate social responsibility is such a big part of their job description .

I've been seeing some companies take a strong stance on environmental issues and social justice lately , but when it comes to gun control... crickets . It's like the expectation is that corporations are going to save the day . Newsflash: CEOs aren't magic solutions . Politicians and other stakeholders need to step up too .

It's time for us consumers to wake up and realize who's really driving the narrative here . We can't just rely on corporations to fix everything . We need systemic change, not just a PR stunt .

 

[Sim Beat Power]

this is so messed up corporations r supposed 2 lead by example but instead they're just sitting quiet like the whole country's in a coma how can u have all that power n influence n not use it 2 demand real change?? it's like everythin' has fallen apart... the schools, the cities, the politicians corporate america's guns rnt silent cuz they care, they're just playin' it safe 'n waitin' 4 someone else 2 take action