Florida Teachers Demand Pension Fund Dump Gunmaker Shares

in #florida7 years ago

Content adapted from this Zerohedge.com article : Sourc

The Florida Education Association, a Florida's teacher's union, is urging the state body that manages the pension funds to dump holding in firearm and ammuniction manufacturers.

Bloomberg found over $500,000 worth of shares in the Florida reacher's pension fund in American Outdoor Brands, formerly known as Smith & Wesson. This was a result of a search the media research firm did two days ago.

They also found holdings in Sturm & Ruger, Vista Outdoor, and Olin Corp.

“I am sure that most of Florida’s public school employees are as sickened as I am to learn that the state has invested some of our pension fund holdings in the maker of the AR-15,” said association president Joanne McCall. “Surely there are better places for the state to invest its public employee retirement money than in companies that make products that harm our children.”

The teacher's union is powerless to order the sale of any stock. In the Florida, the pension is managed by Governor Rick Scott and his cabinet. This means that divestment of these holdings by the teacher's union is impossible unless the Governor goes along with the idea.

It is possible that the Legislature could pass a bill calling for the divestment.

Now that one teacher's union has called for the selling of these stocks, it is a safe bet that others will shortly follow.

Given what happened in the state a week ago, we could well see other funds divest their holdings in areas of this type.

AOBC most likely will not be the last stock dropped from the pension rolls in Florida.

Non-adapted content found at zerohedge.com: Source


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Trump's recent call to arm schools with military training and arms is a great call in my own perspective. But this is not a call from the teachers. If these schools are to be armed, then it should be out of their own will, meaning the government has no right to go to the pension fund. Teaching is not an easy job.. I consider it more of voluntary work because the pay out is little. Teachers as a result have to be motivated to continue a service they are doing out of good will. This motivation alone needs funding. Not cutting. Let the funding come from the government itself since it's entitled to protect the US citizens at all costs.

This is pretty smart actually, it is also a very good way to raise your voice. It's only 500k but still it will make ti to the headlines, which is what matters.

It is really sad that this things have bocme something so popular. USA definitely need tighter laws on guns but NRA will never let this happen, so people are powerless (unfortunately).

@zer0hedge, Some people think that Maybe the teachers' union should look at what is happening in Michigan, where a TB-infected health care worker somehow "may have had contact with more than 600 people while working in three facilities — two hospitals and a senior rehabilitation and long-term care facility — in Oakland, Livingston and Washtenaw counties between May 1, 2017 and Jan. 31, 2018, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The worker was only recently diagnosed, officials said. The person is receiving treatment and no longer working."

Want to be that this worker was a Somali national who got fast tracked to his or her job by Michigan's incompetent government? Note also that the St. Paul, Michigan DA is still doing nothing about the Somali-American cop who murdered Justine Damond in July 2017.

What if we treated the gun manufacturers like the tobacco manufacturers? Through sustained PR campaigns and laws, tobacco usage is at an all-time low. People saw the risks and just don't bother with it. Is tobacco still legal? Yeah. But there's been a cultural shift. I think we could do the same with guns. Stop fetishing them. Stop making them easy to get like candy. Stop thinking you're not A Real Man without owning a rifle longer than your arm.The Japanese are starting to change their work culture after employees started committing suicide due to stress and dying at work from pure exhaustion.

It’s time for the US to look at our culture of guns being one of the most important things someone can have here.

“I am sure that most of Florida’s public school employees are as sickened as I am to learn that the state has invested some of our pension fund holdings in the maker of the AR-15,” said association president Joanne McCall. “Surely there are better places for the state to invest its public employee retirement money than in companies that make products that harm our children.”

no doubt they will continue to invest in big pharma, the maker of products that "may cause suicidal thoughts or actions" and in media companies that sling violent movies, music, video games and snuff films masquerading as "news".

Thank you for sharing this @zer0hedge. It is crazy to see things like this happening. That is the issue with state controlled pensions!

If I was a teacher and I found out that some of my pension fund was invested in to the maker of the AR-15, I would be shocked. Teachers are educational pioneers, and in light of everything that has happened regarding school shootings over the past number of years, I can completely see why they want the stock to be sold.

It is unfortunate that they do not have any say in it, I guess that we will just have to see if the state act in the interests of the people, or stick to their investments.

Thanks again for sharing this @zer0hedge, I would really appreciate your feedback on my posts!.

So much controversy with the whole thing. This just serves to divide America further...

Hi. @zer0hedge
This really annoying first teacher's weak annual salary can not achieve everything he wants and up for financial freedom
My point of view is that the state has no right to touch pension funds at all
This will increase even the desire of teachers to laziness in work
I have also heard of the massacre that took place there and say they will arm the teachers
Marik, you are a leader in this. I wish your excellent opinion
Thankful for your helpful sharing

This is really strange Sir .. @zer0hedge
I have news that Trump in a White House meeting with about 40 students, teachers and relatives of the victims of the Florida accident that the presence of a worker carrying a weapon can end the attack "very quickly."
Survivors of the February 14 massacre demanded Trump to take action to ensure that it was not repeated again.
Trump has also supported calls for tougher verification procedures against those who buy arms.
Meanwhile, other survivors urged lawmakers in Florida to take action to control the arms sale. Thank you for this valuable post
And I want to give me your opinion in this speech @zer0hedge
, I was brilliant. :D

Why aren't they dumping the shares of big pharma companies that produce antidepressants that induce homicidal tendencies?