Was the money well spent?

[wvuguy]

I saw today on Remington's Facebook page that they donated 50,000 dollars toward the Philippines relief effort and this got me thinking. Could that money have went to something better. I don't want to sound heartless or anything but that money could have been put to better use, like being donated to the NRA or a charity for our veterans.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/01/remington-arms-company-donates-to-philippine-relief-effort/#axzz2q6T8hAZe

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Think more broadly, first of all those people needed help and its good PR for gun companies to show the "kinder side". Corporate philantropy is a time honored tactic, vs more lobbying funds (no matter how bad they are needed) that the public may not understand.

Second, its also good customer management/shareholder responsiblity. Especially if you want to win good favor for future sales from your LE division.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/...pply-50000-m4-rifles-for-afp-company-rep-says

Remington has won some pretty decent contracts with the Phillippines. If you take the above contract for 50k rifles, that means they donated about a $1 a rifle.

Companies like Remington are betting on police/military contracts to supplant losses in civilian sales (though I am sure they plan to hold the line on "fudd" guns).

Not a bad move.

 

[pbharvey]

I'm not cynical or anything but maybe they are in the running for a government contract or they outsource some manufacturing there. From a humanitarian standpoint, a hurting person is a hurting person, regardless of where they live.

 

[wvuguy]

I guess I am looking at it with an American viewpoint and not worldwide. I think the Utah gun company that denied the contract with Pakistan was a great P.R move for them. I think it would have been a great P.R move to support the U.S military, we have veterans that need our help.

 

[Multifaceted]

The Philippines have very close relations with the U.S., let's not forget that many Filipino soldiers fought, bled, and died alongside American troops in the Pacific theater during WWII. Though it is not state sanctioned relief, but corporate, I see it as a noble deed for a good cause to people who are in need.

 

[iggy]

The Philippines have very close relations with the U.S., let's not forget that many Filipino soldiers fought, bled, and died along side American troops in the Pacific theater during WWII. Though it is not state sanctioned relief, but corporate, though I see it as a noble deed for a good cause to people who are in need.

Not to mention Pilipino are gun lovers. I am sure that they import plenty from Remington.

 

[teratos]

I saw today on Remington's Facebook page that they donated 50,000 dollars toward the Philippines relief effort and this got me thinking. Could that money have went to something better. I don't want to sound heartless or anything but that money could have been put to better use, like being donated to the NRA or a charity for our veterans.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/01/rem...es-to-philippine-relief-effort/#axzz2q6T8hAZe

I am sure that money was well-spent helping the good people of the Philippines. While causes like the NRA and our veterans are good and worthy causes, when people can't meet their most basic needs like food and clean water that takes precedence over all politics. That's just my opinion.

Also, Remington is a World-wide corporation. I'm sure they do business with the people of the Philippines. To think they should only give to causes that benefit Americans is short-sighted.

 

[spclopr8tr]

Not to mention Pilipino are gun lovers. I am sure that they import plenty from Remington.

And what is your observation based on? According to Gunpolicy.org, the estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) in the Philippines is 4.7. firearms per 100 people. The rate for ownership in the U.S. is 101.05 firearms per 100 people. The PI has very restrictive laws governing ownership, including licensing and registration of all firearms. In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, the Philippines ranked at No. 105. I think a better description of the PI is that they would like to own guns. I don't think they "import plenty from Remington". ref: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/philippines

In any case, Remington making a donation to the PI is a laudable thing to do. The PI not only shed blood along side us in WWII, they continued to serve in the U.S. military for decades after, with many of them gaining U.S. citizenship as a result. My guess is that many U.S. companies made corporate donations to the PI following the disaster, and this particular one only is getting visibility because of the nature of Remington's business and the nature of this forum.

I say good on them. (Said as a U.S. veteran)

 

[Mattk21009]

And what is your observation based on? According to Gunpolicy.org, the estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) in the Philippines is 4.7. firearms per 100 people. The rate for ownership in the U.S. is 101.05 firearms per 100 people. The PI has very restrictive laws governing ownership, including licensing and registration of all firearms. In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, the Philippines ranked at No. 105. I think a better description of the PI is that they would like to own guns. I don't think they "import plenty from Remington". ref: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/philippines

In any case, Remington making a donation to the PI is a laudable thing to do. The PI not only shed blood along side us in WWII, they continued to serve in the U.S. military for decades after, with many of them gaining U.S. citizenship as a result. My guess is that many U.S. companies made corporate donations to the PI following the disaster, and this particular one only is getting visibility because of the nature of Remington's business and the nature of this forum.

I say good on them. (Said as a U.S. veteran)

If you have HBO on demand check out a show called 'Vice'. There was an episode covering the massive underground firearms manufacturing scene. Very restrictive laws on legal gun ownership but there are many, many private people making all kinds of firearms. Their ingenuity was pretty remarkable as at as looking at the raw materials they had access to compared to what the finished product looked like.

 

[rh92]

If you have HBO on demand check out a show called 'Vice'. There was an episode covering the massive underground firearms manufacturing scene. Very restrictive laws on legal gun ownership but there are many, many private people making all kinds of firearms. Their ingenuity was pretty remarkable as at as looking at the raw materials they had access to compared to what the finished product looked like.

VICE also has a YouTube channel but I'm not sure if they have the particular episode you're referring too.

 

[spclopr8tr]

If you have HBO on demand check out a show called 'Vice'. There was an episode covering the massive underground firearms manufacturing scene. Very restrictive laws on legal gun ownership but there are many, many private people making all kinds of firearms. Their ingenuity was pretty remarkable as at as looking at the raw materials they had access to compared to what the finished product looked like.

And what exactly does that have to do with Remington and "importing plenty"? The underground manufacturing is illegal. I don't see how that is relevant to Remington's motivation for donating $50k for disaster relief unless you are suggesting Remington is trying to bribe/buy their way into a larger PI market opportunity.

 

[abean4187]

Meh, to each his own.

 

[tony b]

hard to be against disaster relief

 

[Benanov]

I saw today on Remington's Facebook page that they donated 50,000 dollars toward the Philippines relief effort and this got me thinking. Could that money have went to something better. I don't want to sound heartless or anything but that money could have been put to better use, like being donated to the NRA or a charity for our veterans.

You sound pretty heartless (the only way to add any more heartlessness IMO would to have appended "just saying").

Many other posters have posted reasons (Phillipines / US relations, Filipino gun ownership, corporate PR wins, human decency) for Remington doing what it did. I agree with them.

So 50k went to humanitarian causes rather than legislative change; there's plenty of lobbying money still left in the bucket. Plus 50k is fairly small for an established company and can be written off. Lots of accounting tricks and Remington will have the resources for that.

Congratulate / reward good actions and chastise them for doing evil actions. In this case, the best course of action would have been to stay silent.

 

[iggy]

And what is your observation based on? According to Gunpolicy.org, the estimated rate of private gun ownership (both licit and illicit) in the Philippines is 4.7. firearms per 100 people. The rate for ownership in the U.S. is 101.05 firearms per 100 people. The PI has very restrictive laws governing ownership, including licensing and registration of all firearms. In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, the Philippines ranked at No. 105. I think a better description of the PI is that they would like to own guns. I don't think they "import plenty from Remington". ref: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/philippines

In any case, Remington making a donation to the PI is a laudable thing to do. The PI not only shed blood along side us in WWII, they continued to serve in the U.S. military for decades after, with many of them gaining U.S. citizenship as a result. My guess is that many U.S. companies made corporate donations to the PI following the disaster, and this particular one only is getting visibility because of the nature of Remington's business and the nature of this forum.

I say good on them. (Said as a U.S. veteran)

http://remington.com/en/pages/news-...dsassaultriflecontracttoremingtondefense.aspx
About 50M just in one contract....

Not to mention Remington lists a dealer in Milan.

 

[spclopr8tr]

http://remington.com/en/pages/news-...dsassaultriflecontracttoremingtondefense.aspx
About 50M just in one contract....

Not to mention Remington lists a dealer in Milan.

Got it, but your quote was "Not to mention Pilipino are gun lovers. I am sure that they import plenty from Remington." I took this to mean they, the general population, not the military. $50K seems pretty insignificant in the context of a $50M contract.

 

[r3t1awr3yd]

I saw today on Remington's Facebook page that they donated 50,000 dollars toward the Philippines relief effort and this got me thinking. Could that money have went to something better. I don't want to sound heartless or anything but that money could have been put to better use, like being donated to the NRA or a charity for our veterans.

There's no better cause than helping your fellow man in need IMO.