Industry Companies Provide Aid
As of March 4, Shooting Industry is aware of at least five companies involved in the firearms industry that have offered their support of Ukraine: AMMO Inc., ATN Corp., Adept Armor, Adams Arms and Remington/CCI/Speer/Federal Ammunition.
Feb. 28, AMMO Inc. announced it would be donating 1 million rounds of ammunition to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in support of their fight for continued independence.
"Ammo Inc., and we as Americans, stand firmly in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and independence, as we stand for freedom and democracy everywhere," said Fred Wagenhals, CEO of AMMO Inc. "While we fervently hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to the crisis and that diplomacy will win the day, we condemn the Russian aggression and its threat to Ukraine's territorial integrity and freedom. We recognize that events are unfolding rapidly on the ground in Ukraine, and we are prepared to move quickly as possible to support Ukraine as it continues to defend itself and its freedom."
Richard Childress, NASCAR hall of fame owner and a member of AMMO Inc.'s board of directors, appeared on FOX & Friends March 2 to discuss the AMMO Inc.'s donation to Ukraine - which is now its "number-one priority."
"We're working with some government agencies, but to get it there quickly, we're going to work through a private company that will be working to get it in there," he said. "The number-one ammo they're needing right now over there is the 7.62s, and that's what we're going to be producing."
March 4, Wagenhals revealed the reaction from AMMO Inc. partners and customers has been "overwhelming." The company included a link to the CARE Ukraine Crisis fund for those interested in making financial donations: https://bit.ly/3HC5WrS.
"We've received an overwhelming response from our shareholders, customers, vendors and partners in support of our donation offer to help the Ukrainian Armed Forces in their fight for freedom," he said.
"What is happening right now in Ukraine should be a lesson to all of those who push for citizen disarmament and a ban on private gun ownership."
- Alan Gottlieb, Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms
March 3, ATN Corp., provider of optics to the civilian, L.E. and military markets, announced it has opened a page on its website for direct donations to help the people of Ukraine receive humanitarian supplies and equipment for their fighting forces (atncorp.com/ukraine).
Marc Vayn, founder of ATN, was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and grew up in the U.S. where he started the optics company in 1995. ATN has offices across the U.S., as well as in Odessa and Kyiv, Ukraine.
Before the outbreak of the war, the ATN team worked to move Ukrainian staff members and their families to offices in Bulgaria or a safe place within their home country. Several ATN staff members refused to be moved and have taken up the fight against the Russian aggressor.
"I am an American citizen first, but of Ukrainian blood and spirit," Vayn said. "It is imperative that as a united front, the democratic peoples of the world push back against this despot, Putin, and all he represents."
ATN teams in Bulgaria and on the border of Ukraine have coordinated logistics to move defensive supplies directly to the fighting forces. Unlike other donation sites, the ATN Ukraine relief donation site is processed immediately so that ATN team members overseas can take action within 24 hours.
Upon the launch of the ATN Ukraine donation site, Vayn personally donated $100,000 to the cause. Donations swiftly passed $150,000 in the first 24 hours.
March 3, Adept Armor, an armor system engineering firm, announced it had opened its European facility for distribution of its personal protection products ahead of schedule. The company noted after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, demand for the Adept Armor NovaSteel helmet and Mantis Armor Plate and Storm Systems jumped significantly. Adept Armor responded to a sudden surge of demand in Europe by pulling together resources to complete its European-based production and distribution facility, which was already months in the making, to meet it.
March 4, Adams Arms announced it was standing with Ukraine and was offering shirts on its website honoring the Ukrainian Border Guards who memorably swore at a Russian warship while stationed on Zmiinyi Island. The shirts will be sold via Adams Arms' website, with proceeds going to the Ukrainian National Bank's war funds.
Also on March 4, Remington, CCI, Speer and Federal Ammunition pledged to support Ukraine through a one-million round ammunition donation and online fundraising through a special edition T-shirt sold on Remington's website.
Source: shootingindustry.com
