Sig Sauer, Trump Jr Online Gun Dealer Partner With TPUSA on Limited Edition Guns After Charlie Kirk Assassination

Certainly one of America’s hottest gun makers has produced a set of promotional firearms that profit Charlie Kirk’s political advocacy group, with the assistance of Donald Trump Jr’s on-line gun retailer.

Sig Sauer launched a trio of black and white pistols with the TPUSA “Freedom” slogan written on the slide. It vowed to donate $50 of each gun offered to the group, and Grabagun, the publicly-traded gun seller backed by Trump Jr, agreed to match that sum for any offered by way of their platform.

“SIG SAUER is proud to current the limited-edition Freedom Collection,” the corporate mentioned in a press launch. “This distinctive set of three pistols has been created to pay tribute to the dedication and conviction of Turning Level USA.”

The transfer is an uncommon collaboration for Sig, which has historically centered on particular version weapons designed by skilled shooters or honoring the army and legislation enforcement. It might assist the corporate drive gross sales in a down market by taking a extra direct enchantment to right-leaning gun patrons, who doubtless make up a majority of the corporate’s buyer base. Nonetheless, it additionally dangers turning off potential clients who dislike the polarizing political group amid a decades-long push by main gun makers to develop their enchantment past their core demographic base.

Sig’s TPUSA weapons aren’t the primary or essentially the most aggressive instance of a gunmaker creating firearms that includes polarizing political figures or teams. The truth is, Auto Ordinance has produced a collection of weapons with President Donald Trump’s face engraved on them. Black Rain Ordinance has performed the identical factor with a few of its AR-15s.

Nonetheless, the nation’s largest gun corporations have sometimes shied away from direct affiliation with polarizing figures recognized for issues past capturing or gun-rights activism. Whereas TPUSA has taken an expansive view of Second Modification rights usually, the group additionally takes positions on practically each different political challenge–typically ones that draw controversy.

The involvement of Grabagun within the promotion provides a further political layer to the enterprise. The corporate, which went public by way of a Particular Acquisition Company merger in July, has touted Donald Trump Jr’s involvement as a director. He even rang the opening bell on the inventory alternate the day Grabagun started buying and selling.

“Assist freedom whereas proudly owning one of the iconic firearms ever made,” the corporate mentioned on its gross sales web page for the weapons. “Restricted portions out there. Store now and make each shot depend for one thing larger.”

Whereas the weapons don’t explicitly point out Charlie Kirk, he was the face of TPUSA earlier than he was shot and killed throughout a talking occasion on a Utah faculty campus in September. His homicide sparked an outpouring of grief from his supporters. A number of of those that left feedback on the Grabagun itemizing for the TPUSA weapons mentioned they have been shopping for them “for Charlie.”

“I needed one Sig for my assortment. I like Charlie Kirk,” one commenter wrote. “This mannequin appeared acceptable.”

On the identical time, TPUSA’s aggressive right-wing coverage agenda has made some gun house owners recoil at Sig making a particular version to profit them.

“I spend loads of time attempting to argue that American gun tradition is various and can’t be diminished to right-wing Christian Nationalism,” David Yamane, creator of Gun Curious: A Liberal Professor’s Stunning Journey Inside America’s Gun Tradition, wrote on his private weblog after the announcement. “After which I get up to seek out that Sig Sauer has launched a Restricted (Version) Freedom Collection of pistols to profit Turning Level USA, arguably America’s main right-wing Christian Nationalist group.”

Sig mentioned the “Freedom” particular editions can be supplied in three varieties. The P365 model retails at $699. The 1911-X and 1911-X Carry fashions retail at $1,499.

“For each Freedom pistol offered, SIG SAUER will donate $50 to Turning Level USA to assist make sure the struggle continues,” the corporate mentioned.