Are You Unintentionally Investing in Gun Manufacturers?

Many Americans believe our nation needs to adopt effective gun control policy to stem the tide of violence we increasingly see in our society. In addition to advocating with policy makers at all levels of government, we can also use our economic power as investors to withdraw support from gun manufacturers.

The first step is to know what investments you own. Have you reviewed the holdings of any mutual funds in which you invest?

Unless you are investing in a socially responsible mutual fund, you might be investing in gun manufacturers and other industries you have no desire to support and prosper from. The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investing maintains a chart of socially and environmentally mutual funds, including financial performance data as well as identification of the issues on which the funds are screened. You can find funds that are screened to exclude certain industries, in whole or in part, such as weapons manufacturers and the military; fossil fuels; tobacco; toxic products and more.

In growing numbers, investors large and small are aligning their investments with their values and their goals for our society. This approach to investing, one that integrates social and environmental factors alongside financial analysis, has a key role in building the green economy. Our investments are not just tools to create our own wealth, but a reflection of the kind of economy and society we want to support.

Professionally managed Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) assets now total more than $17.1 trillion in the United States and is expected to continue to grow. You can become part of this movement by using SRI products and services. At www.greenpages.org you’ll find SRI-dedicated financial planners, community development and green banks and credit unions, and mutual funds like Access Capital Community Investment Funds, Azzad funds, CRA Qualified Investment Fund, Domini funds, Green Century Funds, Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Funds, Pax funds, and others that exclude investment in weapons and the military. For investors seeking to understand whether their mutual funds invest in guns, use this tool from our colleagues at As You Sow to identify gun-free funds.

Become a socially responsible investor today — people and the planet depend on it.

https://www.greenamerica.org/b…11-bf27-ca9e0b619cb7

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going to check it out thanks for sharing

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Didn’t know about Socially Responsible Investing. Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.

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Thanks for the great info. I just started learning about this. I chose a few mutual funds considered socially responsible in my individual 401k. I need to check what’s in the 401k that I still have with another employer.

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Some of us believe in the right to bear arms and the 2nd amendment. Should we ban cars when they kill someone? We need to act on the existing gun control laws and expand mental health awareness. Otherwise you are just treating the symptoms.

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Criminals do not obey the laws and that is why the control laws will not work, they are ignored by criminals. It further restricts the law abiding citizens right to bear arms. Another factor in this is the levels of government, federal, state, and local are different Gun control laws also vary from state to state.

The guns used by criminals were obtained from family, friends, gifts, crime scenes, bought, borrowed, traded, stolen, theft and removed from the victim. Not to mention . private sales do not require background checks. Plus criminals are not interested in a green economy.

The latest First Federal Gun Reform Law law signed into effect, does not have some sweeping changes as many had hoped for: The Boyfriend Loophole-hopes to decrease intimate relationship homicides. Federal Firearms Licenses-the law does not require background checks on all firearms sales. Enhanced background checks for under 21-it searches out juvenile convictions.

If you’d like to read further:What Will the New U.S. Gun Control Law Actually Change?

IMO, the unintentionally investing in gun manufacturing is not the problem. Guns are here to stay. People are going to invest in what brings them the most return on their hard earned dollars.

oneyedeb, your statement:

“This approach to investing, one that integrates social and environmental factors alongside financial analysis, has a key role in building the green economy”.

This is a very expensive endeavor and who is going to run it?

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