The recent assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump has once again brought into the limelight the debate about lax gun laws in the USA.
However, it has also brought into sharp focus investments in gun manufacturing companies by big investment behemoths like BlackRock Inc.
BlackRock Inc. was in the news after it pulled down a viral ad featuring a Trump shooter.
The ad was filmed in 2022 at Bethel Park High School where Crooks was studying.
Thomas Matthew Crooks appeared momentarily in the background of the BlackRock Inc ad which featured a teacher.
Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, was gunned down by the Secret Service after firing at former US President Donald Trump at an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.
A statement by BlackRock Inc said,
“In 2022, we ran an ad featuring a teacher from Bethel Park High School, in which several unpaid students briefly appeared in the background, including Thomas Matthew Crooks,”
EXCLUSIVE:
Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20 year old shooter who tried assassinating President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last night, was featured in a BlackRock @BlackRock ad in 2023!
The ad was filmed at Bethel Park High School.… pic.twitter.com/radQ3fDJAR
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) July 14, 2024
The statement added that all the video footage has been provided to the relevant authorities and that the video has been removed from circulation.
The assassination attempt led to the former President being slightly wounded and also left one spectator dead and two others critically wounded.
BlackRock Inc also added that it condemned the attack and called it an abhorrent act and expressed relief that the former President was not seriously hurt.
It also condoled the death of a spectator and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The company said,
“The assassination attempt on former President Trump is abhorrent. We’re thankful that former President Trump wasn’t seriously injured, and thinking about all the innocent bystanders and victims of this awful act, especially the person who was killed,”
The move comes as BlackRock Inc, the world’s largest asset manager, is set to release its earnings report on Monday.
BlackRock has invested heavily in the shares of gun makers.
It was also the largest shareholder in the company that manufactured the gun used in the 2018 Florida school massacre.
Following a huge outcry in the media after the 2018 Florida school massacre, the investment behemoth had created index funds that don’t include shares of gun makers to attract investors who are not interested in owning such stocks in their portfolio.
The investment company also held meetings with gun manufacturers whose shares it holds in large numbers to discuss their business practices.
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