Should CEOs Weigh in on the Gun Debate?

In the aftermath of the deadly Parkland, Florida, school shooting last week, the question is being asked again: What can be done to prevent these attacks from happening? Students have been lobbying lawmakers in Tallahassee and meeting with the president to push for gun control, especially for the assault weapons used in so many recent mass shootings. But is there another route to change in gun laws, not through legislators, but through CEOs and shareholders?

In the New York Times and in Reuters, financial columnists  asked whether companies — particularly banks and investment management firms  — have a corporate responsibility to address the sale of certain kinds of guns. It's an idea that dovetails with the increasingly popular "corporate social responsibility" programs touted by large corporations. Recently, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset management firm, wrote to other CEOs that "society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society." 

This week on Money Talking, Charlie Herman discusses the issue with Rana Foroohar, Global Business Columnist at the Financial Times, and Rob Cox, Global Editor at Reuters Breakingsviews.

In some instances, corporate executives feel compelled to get involved in hot-button political issues. Could gun control be next?