March 28, 2023

NSSF Applauds Utah Governor Signing Anti-ESG Discrimination Laws

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s signature on a package of laws that will end “woke” corporate discrimination against firearm-related businesses. The laws were recently signed and target corporations that discriminate against the firearm industry by making them ineligible for state and municipal contracts, among other provisions. These laws ensure that Utah will choose to do business with those companies that do not discriminate based on a Constitutionally-protected industry they may not like or with which they disagree.

“These laws ensure that lawful businesses, including the firearm industry, are free from the pressures of special interests that attempt to sway public policy through discriminatory policies that put ‘wokeism’ ahead of Constitutional rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Corporations, especially Wall Street banks, have abused taxpayer-funded state contracts to force public policy outside of legislative authorities. The firearm industry is grateful to the Utah Legislature and Governor Cox for their principled stand that public policy must remain accountable to the people who elect their representatives, not unaccountable corporate elites in Wall Street ivory towers.”

Gov. Cox signed a package of legislation that includes:

SB 97: a law that prohibits a Utah public entity from entering into a contract with a company that engages in certain boycott actions, including businesses that engage in, facilitate, or support the manufacture, distribution, sale, or use of firearms.

HB 449: a law that prohibits a company from coordinating with another to intentionally destroy certain companies by eliminating the viable options for the companies to obtain a product or service. The law specifically identifies boycotted companies to include those that engage in, facilitate, or support the manufacture, import, distribution, advertising, sale, or lawful use of a firearm, ammunition, or another component or accessory of a firearm or ammunition.

SB 96:  a law that requires Utah’s state retirement board, in accordance with fiduciary responsibilities, to make investment decisions with the sole purpose of maximizing the risk-adjusted return on the investments.

HB 281: a law that prohibits a governmental entity from using, enforcing, providing data for use in, or otherwise participating in the creation or use of a system that, based on a social credit score, that discriminates against, advocates for, or causes adverse or preferential treatment of a person.

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Mark Oliva
202-220-1340

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