The DC Snipers' Final Victim: Bushmaster Firearms

[Rekrab]

That article doesn't cite the settlement as a cause... How did you come to that conclusion?

I'm not trying to be antagonistic, I'm just trying to get a clearer picture of the circumstances.

[DDRH]

wow that is some BS if it's true

[Alaric]

That article doesn't cite the settlement as a cause... How did you come to that conclusion?

I'm not trying to be antagonistic, I'm just trying to get a clearer picture of the circumstances.

I should have been more clear that that's my analysis on what happened.

Feel free to disagree.

Basically here's the facts that lead me to that conclusion:

-Bushmaster is (was) the biggest producer of AR type rifles in the country
-Bushmaster becomes the target of the Brady's with this status and finds itself in a lawsuit based on the actions of Muhammed and Malvo
-Bushmaster is forced into a major payout and large legal expenses
-The owner of Bushmaster then sells the company to a large conglomerate (Freedom Group)
-Freedom Group then decides to close Bushmaster's factory in Maine and consolidate manufacturing

It seems logical to me to conclude that the lawsuit probably played some role in the decision to sell the company. As stated by the previous owner of Bushmaster in the article, he had hoped Freedom Group would keep manufacturing in Maine. Seems logical then that had he not sold out, he would have kept manufacturing in Maine. Therefore, without the lawsuit, the sale might not have happened and the closure of their manufacturing facilities likely wouldn't have happened. Follow?

[Rekrab]

I see where you're going, and I wouldn't be surprised if the $500,000 settlement hurt them. But at the same time, considering how much business they do I'm extremely surprised that $500,000 would hurt them that much. I would expect them to have more cash on hand. Without looking at their financial statements this is pure speculation though.

I would guess that there were many other issues that they were facing that probably played a larger role in their decision to sell to Freedom Group and Freedom Group's subsequent decision to consolidate manufacturing. I know it stings when a factory is closed down or relocated, but it makes more sense from a business-perspective to have all the manufacturing done in one location to cut down on cost.

[steelrain82]

So since re ATF new about the bad record keeping and didn't close them
Down shouldn't they also have been sued. Atthat point they are just as liable as the other two.

[Uriah02]

From what I can gather about Freedom Group, they seem like a decent business conglomerate.

[Solidsnake87]

Are Freedom Group and Cerberus the same company? I know both are snapping up firearms businesses like none other. a firearms duopoly/monopoly does not sound very good for prices :/

[RickyB]

Are Freedom Group and Cerberus the same company? I know both are snapping up firearms businesses like none other. a firearms duopoly/monopoly does not sound very good for prices :/

I think so. Since I just bought a Marlin, I obviously had to join the Marlin Owners forum. And let's just put it this way----Cerberus has a thread named after him there as well......

[SAR_Squid79]

So if a McDonald's employee sells you a raw hamburger, and you get sick - it's the cow's fault...

...Only in America!

I heart my Bushmaster. Sorry to hear that this happened to them. This sucks.

[Spaceghost]

How in the world is Bushmaster responsible for this? *Face palm*

[Alaric]

I think so. Since I just bought a Marlin, I obviously had to join the Marlin Owners forum. And let's just put it this way----Cerberus has a thread named after him there as well......

Yes, Cerberus owns the Freedom Group. Cerberus is a huge private equity group that owns/controls many companies.

If you look at the name, it has some interesting history. Cerberus was the 3 headed dog from Greek and Roman lore that protected the gate to Hades to keep the damned from escaping.

It's also the name of the militant pro-human survivalist group in the Mass Effect series.

I'm not trying to paint them as something nefarious, but hopefully they have the best interests of the gun buying public in mind when snatching up so many gun companies.

[RickyB]

Yes, Cerberus owns the Freedom Group. Cerberus is a huge private equity group that owns/controls many companies.

If you look at the name, it has some interesting history. Cerberus was the 3 headed dog from Greek and Roman lore that protected the gate to Hades to keep the damned from escaping.

It's also the name of the militant pro-human survivalist group in the Mass Effect series.



I'm not trying to paint them as something nefarious, but hopefully they have the best interests of the gun buying public in mind when snatching up so many gun companies.

You just can't make this stuff up, Kidz.......

[RandyD]

As an attorney, this case illustrates why we need tort reform. What the plaintiffs' attorneys did in this case is name everyone who may have been negligent and then claim negligence. This is the deep pockets' theory, meaning that our legal system allows the "Have Nots" to place the "Haves" in legal jeapardy by just alledging negligence. This puts the defendants in the position of having to defend themselves throughout the case. This is a very expensive process for the defendants. At trial, if they draw a conservative jury, the defendant will likely get a favorable verdict but he will have to pay his own legal bills. If the defendant draws a liberal jury, it is hard to predict how much such a jury will award the plaintiffs and he will still have to pay his own legal fees.