In the grief and outrage following this week’s murder of 19 children and 2 teachers in Texas, and as discussions swirl about America’s gun culture, much of the focus is on the AR-15 rifle used in the assault.
A Washington Post story notes that just days before the carnage, gunmaker — Daniel Defense posted a tweet showing a young boy with the rifle. It said: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
That’s a reference to a Biblical proverb, the Post says.
After the shooting, Daniel Defense hid its tweets from public view.
The Georgia-based company had planned to exhibit at this weekend’s National Rifle Association convention in Houston. “GIVEAWAYS, DEMOS, CELEBRITY APPEARANCES & MORE,” they promised.
Those plans were canceled. Daniel Defense pulled out “due to the horrifying tragedy in Uvalde, Texas where one of our products was criminally used,” said vice president of marketing Steve Reed.
“We believe this week is not the appropriate time to be promoting our products in Texas at the NRA meeting.”
Reed is a graduate of Princeton University, with an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Steve Reed
He’s also a 1980 graduate of Staples High School, where he captained the football, basketball and baseball teams. He attended Hillspoint Elementary and Long Lots Junior High Schools too.
His LinkedIn profile notes: “Marketing leader with proven record of driving profitable brand growth and transforming teams for success. … Adept at translating customer insights into new growth opportunities. Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate data-driven strategies & tactics that resolve complex business challenges and meet financial forecasts.”
Immediately after the massacre, Reed said, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and community devastated by this evil act. We will cooperate with all federal, state and local law enforcement authorities in their investigations. We will keep the families of the victims and the entire Uvalde community in our thoughts and our prayers.”
He did not reply immediately to an “06880” request for further comments.
This evening our director of psychological services, Dr. Valerie Babich, has mobilized, along with her team and the entire district administrative team, to provide guidance for each of our levels: elementary, middle and high school. I want to assure parents of young children that discussion of this topic will not be initiated at the elementary level. However, we are working at this moment to organize and provide guidance and resources so our faculty are ready in the morning.
Finally, I have been in touch with our chief of police, Foti Koskinas. I have requested a police presence at all of our schools tomorrow, which he immediately honored. Our schools are not at risk, yet this collaboration and support with our local police department is reassuring for many in our community. We will continue to partner with our police department to maintain the highest of safety standards in our drills and protocols.