CEOs are tired of being held responsible for gun regulation | CNN Business

The Powerless Plea of Corporate America: Why CEOs are Tired of Being the Gun Control Solution

As the US grapples with yet another mass shooting, one group that has long been vocal on gun control is eerily silent. Corporate America's top executives have joined the debate in the past, only to be met with limited success. Now, they're feeling frustrated.

According to Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, CEOs are tired of being held responsible for finding a solution to the country's gun violence problem. "We've taken a very strong stance and we've gone out further than the general public," he said in an interview. "But we need others to now do something."

Sonnenfeld notes that while CEOs have been vocal on issues like voting rights, immigration reform, and sustainability, they can't tackle all of these problems alone. "We're waiting for everybody else to join us," he said.

The problem is that the public has come to rely on corporate America to be its voice on important social issues. But Sonnenfeld argues that this is a misplaced expectation. CEOs are not politicians or civic leaders; they're businesspeople who should focus on running their companies, not solving complex societal problems.

Despite their efforts, CEOs have struggled to make an impact on gun control legislation. "We've joined causes with valor and nobility," said Sonnenfeld, but ultimately, it's been a drop in the bucket. Now, top executives are feeling frustrated that they can't do more to address this pressing issue.

The irony is that while CEOs may feel powerless, they still wield significant influence over politicians through campaign contributions. However, since the 2020 elections, big business has given much less to politicians, and now it's the other way around: politicians are expected to listen to corporate America's demands.

For now, Sonnenfeld remains optimistic that if other groups, like students, clergy, or activists, join forces with CEOs on gun control, they might finally see some progress. But until then, Corporate America will continue to voice its concerns, feeling powerless in the face of a complex issue that requires collective action.

I think it's kinda crazy how much pressure corporate america puts on itself to be the solution to everything . Like, they're not politicians or experts, just businesspeople trying to run their companies. It's like we expect them to save the day every time there's a mass shooting . Newsflash: they can't do it alone . We need everyone coming together on this one, from politicians to activists to regular folks who are actually affected by gun violence . Let's stop relying on corporate america to be our voice for change and start holding them accountable for their own actions .

i feel corporate america shouldnt be expected to solve everything, its like theyre tryna take on too much responsibility theyve got enough on their plates with profit margins and stock prices what if they were to just focus on making a difference in their own communities instead of trying to dictate national policy they could invest in community programs or initiatives that promote gun safety and prevention it might not be as flashy as having ceos take the stage, but its a more practical approach

Man, I feel so done with corporate America trying to solve our country's problems . Like, CEOs can't even take care of their own companies without some politicians messing it up for them, you know? And now they're expected to be the ones pushing for gun control? It's like they're just gonna sit back and wait for everyone else to do their job, right?

I don't get why we put so much pressure on them to be our voice on social issues. CEOs are businesspeople, not politicians or community leaders. They should be focusing on running their companies, not trying to fix the country . And don't even get me started on how little influence they actually have these days... I mean, sure, they can throw some cash at politicians, but that's not gonna solve anything .

It's like, what's the point of having all those CEOs and business leaders speaking out if it's just gonna be met with crickets? I'm tired of hearing them say "we need everyone else to join us" when really, they're just waiting for someone else to take charge. And honestly, who is that gonna be?

It's really disheartening to see corporate America feeling frustrated and helpless in addressing the pressing issue of gun violence . As Sonnenfeld rightly pointed out, CEOs can't single-handedly solve this problem; it requires collective action from various stakeholders. The fact that we're relying on corporations to be our voice on social issues is also concerning - shouldn't we be looking towards community leaders, activists, or even the general public for guidance?

Moreover, the irony of corporate America feeling powerless despite their significant influence over politicians through campaign contributions is not lost on me. It highlights the need for a more nuanced conversation around the role of business in driving social change . I do hope that if other groups join forces with CEOs to tackle gun control, we might finally see some progress . But until then, it's essential to re-examine our expectations and look towards a more inclusive and collaborative approach to addressing societal issues

man this is messed up corporations think they can just speak out on gun control and everyone's gonna listen but honestly it feels like they're just trying to save their own skin they're all about profits over people and now they're feeling frustrated that nobody's listening meanwhile politicians are getting all the attention and cash from big business it's not exactly fair to expect CEOs to be some kind of magical solution to gun violence when they're still making bank off exploiting workers and the environment we need real change makers on this one not just corporate america trying to virtue signal

I'm really surprised that corporate america is feeling so frustrated about gun control . I mean, I get it, they can't solve the problem on their own, but shouldn't they at least try? It's like, we're all tired of hearing about mass shootings and wanting change, but no one knows how to make that happen . And yeah, maybe CEOs shouldn't be expected to be the solution, but what else can they do? Just talking about it isn't enough...we need some real action .

I'm not surprised, tbh . People always think that just because someone has money and influence, they can solve all our problems. But the thing is, CEOs aren't politicians or experts on gun control . They're businesspeople who need to focus on making a profit and creating jobs, not fighting for social change. And yeah, it's ironic that we expect them to be the ones who can make a difference when they're actually the ones who get to decide who gets funded by their companies . I mean, what would happen if CEOs just stopped donating to politicians? Would the country suddenly become a better place without them? I don't know, but one thing's for sure: we need more than just corporate America's voice on this issue. We need collective action and people from all walks of life coming together to make real change

The thing is, I think it's kinda weird that people expect corporate America to be the ones solving all these big social issues. I mean, they're not politicians or anything! They have their own agenda and priorities, like making money and growing their businesses. And yeah, some CEOs do try to get involved in things like gun control, but it's not like they're magically going to single-handedly change the laws or something . It feels like there's this expectation that just because they've made some money or have a fancy title, they should be able to tell us what to do on super important issues like gun violence . I get it, they want to help, but we need to stop relying on them to fix everything and start listening to other groups and experts too .

I gotta say, I'm so over corporate America thinking it can single-handedly fix our problems . Like, CEOs are businesspeople, not miracle workers . They should focus on running their companies and making money, not trying to be the ones who save the world from mass shootings .

It's like they think having a few well-placed tweets or public statements makes them experts in policy-making . Newsflash: it doesn't work that way . And yeah, they may have more influence over politicians through campaign contributions, but at the end of the day, politicians are still in charge .

I love Sonnenfeld's point about people relying on corporate America to be their voice on social issues . It's not fair to expect them to be the ones doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to complex problems like gun control. We need a collective effort, not just some high-powered CEO trying to make a difference .

I think what's really interesting here is how we've started relying too much on one group (in this case, corporate america) to be our solution providers for social issues . It's like we're putting all our eggs in one basket and expecting them to save the day without any support.

The thing is, CEOs are businesspeople, not politicians or community leaders. They have a responsibility to run their companies, not solve complex societal problems that require a lot of buy-in from various groups . I mean, think about it, what if every single one of us took on a responsibility like this? Our personal lives would get totally out of whack .

But seriously, isn't it time we start looking at our social issues in a more holistic way? How can we expect corporate america to make a dent when we're not all pulling together? It's not about individual leaders or companies; it's about collective action .

I dont get it why CEO's are so upset about being the only ones who care about guns . Theyre already making millions and getting away with breaking laws, yet they feel bad for not having more power over politicians ? Its like saying Im tired of doing my job because someone told me to do it . Businesspeople should focus on making money, not solving all our problems . Can we please just have some real leaders who actually care about the country instead of relying on big business to speak up for us?

I'm so done with corporations trying to be the heroes on social issues . It's like they think buying politicians and tweeting about it makes them experts . Meanwhile, we're still waiting for actual change .

And can't they see that relying on corporate America for solutions is a total misdirection? We need grassroots movements, community organizers, and actual activists to drive real change . It's not like CEOs are going to single-handedly solve gun violence or climate change .

Let's be real, folks . If corporations really cared about the issues, they'd start making some real sacrifices, not just donating a little more to politicians . Until then, let's keep our expectations in check and focus on building a movement that doesn't rely on corporate America's benevolence .

I'm so done with corporate America trying to be the heroes we need . They're like the CEO version of Tony Stark - all flash and no substance . Newsflash: just because you've got deep pockets doesn't mean you can solve gun violence on your own . It's time for them to stop expecting everyone else to join forces with them and take ownership of their responsibilities .

And let's be real, if they're not willing to put in the effort, then maybe it's time for politicians to listen to other groups - you know, the ones who actually care about change . Students, clergy, activists... they've all got a stake in this issue and are already taking action .

I'm not buying into the whole "businesses can't solve societal problems" thing . They may not be politicians or community leaders, but they're still major players in our economy and society . So, let's give them some credit where credit is due - for trying to make a difference, at least .

The only way we'll see progress on gun control is if everyone works together towards a common goal . It's time for corporate America to step up their game (and by that, I mean actually take action) and not just expect the rest of us to do all the heavy lifting .

I dont get why ppl think CEOs should be the ones solvin gun violence issues Like whats next? Expecting them to fix climate change too?! They got jobs 2 do, not superhero CEO's savin the world What if instead of relyin on corporate america, politicians & activists joined forces & came up w/ real solutions? That'd be a start