Smith & Wesson Under Siege by Investors, Cops and Priests
- Director’s roles at other gun-related firms is questioned
- Activist shareholder group calls for broad changes to board
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Mitchell Saltz serves on the boards of several gun and security companies, a legacy from his time leading Smith & Wesson. That potential for conflict has prompted protests as he seeks re-election at American Outdoor Brands Corp., the gunmaker’s parent company.
At the heart of the matter is a decision by American Outdoor to stop training courses for police officers and soldiers -- while another company picked up contracts for similar training using virtual reality simulators. Saltz’s position on the boards of both companies is gaining scrutiny from shareholder advocates even as the company faces questions over gun safety from the religious leaders, a national police group and investors.