You almost defÂiÂniteÂly own gun stocks if you invest in mutuÂal funds. Sorry if thatâs bad news.
I own a sword. A real sharp sword. I would have no probÂlem havÂing to regÂisÂter it, or havÂing rules around carÂryÂing it propÂerÂly. I would totalÂly have a probÂlem with simÂply banÂning it, like they have in London. From what I underÂstand, gang vioÂlence with machetes in the UK was so bad they banned long knives (includÂing swords). Itâs incredÂiÂbly wrong, in my mind, to have such a broad reachÂing ban withÂout an easy way for law abidÂing citÂiÂzens to work around it.
My opinion, donât hate me
I donât believe machete manÂuÂfacÂturÂers are lobÂbyÂing the House of Commons to get UK âlarge knife lawsâ repealed. I donât underÂstand why the gun comÂpaÂnies have so much influÂence in Washington, or why polÂiÂcy makÂers conÂsidÂer their point of view when creÂatÂing polÂiÂcy. (I mean, I do underÂstand it, but in my opinÂion is misÂguidÂed in the same way that comÂpaÂny CEOâs who only conÂsidÂer shareÂholdÂer return when it comes to deciÂsions about the comÂpaÂny.)
Investing in gun stocks
Anyways, if guns arenât your thing you may not want to invest in gun stocks (the comÂpaÂnies that make the guns, and make them availÂable so promisÂcuÂousÂly).
Unfortunately (for you), if you own mutuÂal funds, you probÂaÂbly also own the gun comÂpaÂnies.
Itâs one of the reaÂsons I recÂomÂmend investÂing in indiÂvidÂual comÂpaÂnies; it gives you more conÂtrol over the comÂpaÂnies you own.
Theyâre your comÂpaÂnies â donât you want your comÂpaÂnies to operÂate withÂin your ethÂiÂcal valÂues?
Thatâs not a judgeÂment on anyÂone elseâs ethics or choicÂes. Itâs perÂfectÂly OK to invest in the comÂpaÂnies that make you the most monÂey, even if they make prodÂucts that have become so diviÂsive to our counÂtry. But itâs also OK to invest in alignÂment with your social valÂues.
Not only will you still make monÂey, but youâll feel betÂter about yourÂself while you do.
This is an interÂestÂing take on a very diviÂsive issue. Well done!
A very interÂestÂing look on guns, like you said, if you invest in mutuÂal funds you might be investÂing in guns. But I think there is a way to specÂiÂfy that you do not want your monÂey investÂed in a speÂcifÂic kind of stock if you are realÂly keen on not supÂportÂing gun comÂpaÂnies.
Hi Andrew,
If you are investÂing in funds of any sort, youâre âstuckâ with the manÂagersâ deciÂsion on what to invest in. Your only choice is in decidÂing which funds to invest in, and you can cerÂtainÂly find ethÂiÂcalÂly-based funds of all sorts. I sugÂgest havÂing a look at Stash. Stash is very popÂuÂlar, and explains their investÂments in plain English and tarÂgets speÂcifÂic demoÂgraphÂics that might align with a moral-investÂing stratÂeÂgy.
As an anti-gun perÂson, I would not like to invest in gun shares. I think I would need to talk to my broÂker. I did not know that gun shares are also used in MFâs.
As a lifeÂlong memÂber of the NRA, I appreÂciÂate your artiÂcle and l am sure you are pleased to hear l changed my mind and will not sign with you. l think you have a repÂutable comÂpaÂny but l preÂfer to invest in Smith and Wesson or even Red Ryder B.B.guns if they are profÂitable.
Hi Brenda,
If you think theyâre good investÂments and they align with YOUR social valÂues, then I hope youâre sucÂcessÂful. They donât align to mine⊠that said, theyâre just mine not everyÂoneâs.
The main point of the artiÂcle is that peoÂple thing strongÂly about someÂthing (anyÂthing) and the behavÂior they adopt by blindÂly investÂing in funds stands in stark conÂtrast to their own imporÂtant beliefs⊠withÂout them even realÂizÂing.
David