Schumer requires probe into ‘harmful’ advertising and marketing of JR-15 rifle

The feds ought to examine rifles “insanely being marketed to youngsters,” Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned Sunday.

He referred to as out Wee 1 Tactical for its “JR-15″ weapon resembling AR-15-style assault rifles notoriously utilized in mass shootings across the nation.

The .22-caliber gun’s “small measurement, light-weight rugged polymer building and ergonomics are geared in direction of smaller fanatics,” Wee 1 boasts on its web site.

“The very last thing we should be doing is shrinking lethal weapons of struggle and advertising and marketing them to younger youngsters,” Schumer mentioned in a press release because the nation reeled from the newest mass taking pictures, by which 10 folks had been killed Saturday night time in Los Angeles.

“We should cease the raining of bullets on youngsters and rein on this horrendous and gross advertising and marketing marketing campaign, so others identical to it don’t pop up. The [Federal Trade Commission] has the facility and the proof to take a tough have a look at this harmful ‘JR-15′ advertising and marketing effort,” the New York Democrat mentioned.

Highlighting that “folks below the age of 18 can’t personal a gun,” he requested “why is that this firm so fervently advertising and marketing to youngsters?”

Wee 1, which is predicated within the Chicago space, didn’t instantly reply a Each day Information request for remark.

The JR-15 was featured at a gun present final week in Las Vegas.

Over the summer season, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spoke on the Home flooring beside a JR-15 advert together with graphics of pony-tailed skulls with inexperienced and pink pacifiers of their mouths. Pelosi, the Home speaker on the time, referred to as the advertising and marketing “disgusting.”

The gun producer seems to have toned down a few of its promotional efforts. However its web site nonetheless reveals a toddler aiming a rifle, with an grownup trying on.

“It’s abundantly clear that the agency is making an express effort to attraction to youngsters to be able to increase gross sales of this lethal weapon,” Schumer wrote in a letter to FTC Chairman Lina Khan.

“Whereas Wee 1 Tactical’s advertising and marketing makes an attempt to make the weapon seem protected to be used by youngsters, it’s clearly no completely different than a lethal AR-15, which has already inflicted a lot hurt and unthinkable trauma on the youngsters of this nation.”