Safariland, the company that produces tear gas and other crowd control items, and its distributors have made over $137 million from the United States government in the past three and a half years.
What We Know:
- Safariland’s tear gas was used to clear protestors in Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis.
- Last year, the Department of Justice purchased 160 canisters of Spede-Heat from one of Safariland’s distributors, A2Z Supply. The U.S. government provided the company $137 million of its profits in the past three and a half years.
- Spede-Heat, which was used to clear the protestors in Washington D.C., contains mace gas which can be shot from up to 150 feet. According to Safariland’s website, if shot directly at people, it can cause “serious injury or death”.
I’ve reached out to @usparkpolicepio to explain why our @wusa9 crew picked up both artificial CS & natural CS tear gas canisters on H & 17th St Monday night. Please explain @realDonaldTrump @PressSec https://t.co/72Hs2eNMMY pic.twitter.com/s7wgzf9Pc2
— Nathan Baca (@NathanBacaTV) June 4, 2020
- Safariland also produces rubber bullets, batons, helmets, and body armor.
- In 2018, the CEO of Safariland, Warren Kanders received backlash after tear gas canisters were found at the U.S/ Mexico border. Now, Kanders receives the same backlash due to the recent protests which caused the company to lose investors.
- The American Civil Liberties Union sued President Trump and government officials on behalf of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit is because they claim the use of tear gas violates their constitutional rights.
Tear gas can cause permanent damage such as burns on the skin, blindness, and respiratory problems.
