Press Releases

Campaign Research Notes, March 28, 2025 – In this industry update, we look at a new VPC study released earlier this month detailing the devastating impact of U.S. 50 caliber sniper rifles illegally trafficked to Mexico.

Campaign Research Notes, March 6, 2025 – In this industry update: As the gun lobby and firearms industry push federal legislation for coast-to-coast concealed carry, the latest update from the VPC’s Concealed Carry Killers project continues to show that despite claims that those who carry concealed, loaded handguns in public are “good guys” with guns, in reality the exact opposite is true.

Today the VPC released “Long Range Terror: How U.S. 50 Caliber Sniper Rifles Wreak Havoc in Mexico.” The 31-page study documents the prevalence of U.S.-sourced 50 caliber sniper rifles illegally trafficked to Mexico and how these weapons are used by cartels to terrorize civilians and attack and undermine government authorities.

Hoy, el VPC está dando a conocer “Terror de largo alcance: cómo rifles de francotirador calibre 50 estadounidenses hacen estragos en México”. Este estudio de 31 páginas documenta la prevalencia de rifles de francotirador calibre 50 de origen estadounidense e ilegalmente traficados a México, y cómo los carteles usan estas armas para aterrorizar a civiles y atacar y debilitar a las autoridades gubernamentales.

Campaign Research Notes, February 11, 2025 – The gun industry never misses an opportunity to market its increasingly lethal products to the American public. While most of America sees Valentine’s Day as a time of love and closeness, to the firearms industry it’s just another day to try and sell some guns.

Campaign Research Notes, February 4, 2025 – In January 2022, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) exposed the launch of a marketing campaign by gunmaker WEE1 Tactical for the JR-15, an AR-15 assault rifle specifically designed for children. Now, the founders of WEE1 are back with an apparently new company,  and what appears to be the same junior-sized AR-15 assault rifle, but with a new name: The GOAT-15.

Campaign Research Notes, December 19, 2024 – While most of America sees Christmas as a time of peace and goodwill, to the firearms industry it’s just another opportunity to market its increasingly lethal products.

Campaign Research Notes, November 26, 2024 – Another holiday, another chance for the gun industry to market its increasingly lethal products. While most of America sees Thanksgiving as an opportunity to gather with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate and give thanks, the gun industry sees it as just another sales opportunity.

In this industry update: the latest from the Violence Policy Center’s ongoing research project Assault on DC, Guns & Ammo features a four-page advertising spread (including the front and back covers) from Silencer Central urging readers to buy one firearm silencer and get the second for free, and another example of the firearm industry’s financial support of the gun lobby.

Campaign Research Notes, October 29, 2024 – Though most people think of Halloween as a fun holiday for children, for the gun industry it’s just another opportunity to market their militarized products. As the gun website Pew Pew Tactical noted last Halloween, “So…Halloween Gun Sales are a thing now. But if you think about it…it’s the perfect thing to bridge the gap until Black Friday and Cyber Monday.”