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 The shareholder scrutiny of the world's largest online retailer
comes a day before the anniversary of the school massacre in
Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 26 people. The incident
led to extensive debate over U.S. gun-control laws and pressure on
gunmakers and traditional retailers.
The activists include the managers of funds that promote themselves
as socially responsible investors, and a deputy of New York State
Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who manages the state's retirement
fund. They sent Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos a letter on
November 25 and showed it to Reuters on Thursday.
The group of investors, which said it had not heard back from
Amazon, asked for details like whether the company restricts sales
of dangerous products and what percentage of revenue it generates
from firearms accessories.
The activists said in the letter that they were not suggesting the
company is violating U.S. laws. "Nevertheless, we are deeply
concerned that these product offerings allow your customers to
increase the lethality of their weapons and to effectively convert
semi-automatic weapons into machine guns, which are illegal under
U.S. law," states the letter.
An Amazon representative said the company does not sell guns or
ammunition and cited its policies in response to other questions.
The company's website notes that some jurisdictions might restrict
the sale of some products. It also says it prohibits third parties
from selling on Amazon "converters that can give a gun automatic
capability" and "parts or accessories related to assault weapons."
The activists' letter was signed by Adam Kanzer, general counsel of
Domini Social Investments of New York and sent on behalf of 33 other
investors that collectively have more than $490 billion under
management and include Amazon shareholders. They noted the case of
Newtown where gunman Adam Lanza used weapons including an AR-15 type
rifle, a popular weapon that can be converted to fire more rapidly.
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The activists cited products offered for sale on Amazon.com such as
a gun stock that "allows shooter to shoot as quickly as desired" and
a lever for the AR-15 that "allows you to lock the bolt back and
release the bolt with just a slight movement of your trigger finger
which significantly improves the speed and efficiency of reloads,"
according to both the site and the text of the letter.
Similar levers were also available on the online sites of other
retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Cabela's Inc. Cabela's
also sold a similar gun stock.
Kanzer said his firm did not contact either of the other retailers
on the issue because Domini does not own their shares.
A Cabela's spokesman declined to comment.
A Wal-Mart spokesman, Kory Lundberg, said the store avoids selling
accessories that could be used to illegally modify a firearm. Among
other restrictions, he said, it also does not sell handguns except
at a few stores in Alaska, and does not sell guns online.
(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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