Press Releases

Washington, DC — Following the recent mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine committed with a Ruger SFAR assault rifle that left 18 victims dead and 13 wounded at two locations, the Violence Policy Center (VPC) today released a 13-page backgrounder on the assault weapon manufacturer, including details on the model of gun used in the shooting. […]

Violence Policy Center: Demand Answers About the Weapons Used and How They Were Procured Washington, DC – In the wake of any public mass shooting, it is vital that the media, policymakers, and general public demand answers about the firearms the perpetrator used and how they were procured. Five specific questions to ask include: 1–What […]

After Going Underground for a Year, WEE1 Tactical Returns with a Kinder, Gentler Marketing Campaign for its “JR-15” Child Assault Rifle Washington, DC — Roughly one year after provoking outrage and condemnation nationwide after it was revealed by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) that gun manufacturer WEE1 Tactical was launching sales of the “JR-15” – […]

Washington, DC – Following today’s passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of legislation to ban assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines, Violence Policy Center (VPC) Government Affairs Director Kristen Rand issued the following statement: “Assault weapons are the clearest example of how today’s gun industry innovates for lethality rather than for safety. A ban […]

Washington, DC — Following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, the Violence Policy Center today published an online resource page with VPC research relevant to the attack. VPC Backgrounder on Daniel DefenseThis backgrounder contains information on Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the assault rifle used in the mass shooting at Robb […]

Washington, DC —The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today released a new slide show of firearms industry ads and catalog images exposing the common themes that gunmakers use in their marketing of militarized weapons such as the Bushmaster XM-15 assault rifle used in the mass shooting this past weekend at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New […]

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Global Exchange, March for Our Lives, Newtown Action Alliance and the Violence Policy Center—represented by the law firm Marten Law—filed an amicus brief in support of the Mexican Government’s lawsuit that seeks to hold gun industry members accountable for gun […]

Manufacturer Says Its JR-15 Child-Sized Assault Rifle “looks, feels, and operates just like Mom and Dad’s gun” Washington, DC — An Illinois-based gun manufacturer is marketing AR-15 assault rifles designed specifically for children. Manufactured by WEE1 Tactical, and dubbed the JR-15, the company states that the child-sized assault rifles are 20 percent smaller than a […]

Gun Marketing Exploits Rise in Hate Crimes during Pandemic WASHINGTON, DC – Exploiting the increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, the gun industry is targeting the Asian American community as potential new gun buyers and future pro-gun advocates, according to How the Firearms Industry Markets Guns to Asian Americans, a […]

Washington, DC–In response to stagnation in the traditional white male market, the gun industry and National Rifle Association (NRA) are now targeting Blacks and Latinos as potential new gun buyers according to a new study from the Violence Policy Center (VPC). The 39-page report, How the Firearms Industry and NRA Market Guns to Communities of […]