An American icon since 1852, Smith & Wesson on Monday fired a public broadside to whom it may concern about its feelings on the right to keep and bear arms and how they fit into it. 

S&W was among a series of companies asked to testify last month before the Democrat-controlled House Oversight Committee on the subject of "the role of the firearms industry in America’s gun violence epidemic." While the heads of two large firearm makers showed up and took a stab at answering rigged questions from the Dems – only to later be roasted for said answers in hindsight by some in the gun community – Smith didn't waste its time. Therefore, the company was called out and subpoenaed by Committee Chair U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, a 15th-term Democrat who is fighting a tough re-election campaign – described as a "cage match" by the New York Post – due to redistricting in Manhattan. 

For further background, Maloney is locked in a run-off against fellow 15th-term U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, a high-profile Dem who is head of the House Judiciary Committee, which already had a hand in passing anti-gun legislation this year following a showboat hearing. 

Maloney's office naturally published the letter to S&W, along with a hyperbolic press release highlighting that she told the company, "Your company collects hundreds of millions of dollars selling assault weapons that are used in mass shootings." 

Well, Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. President & CEO Mark Smith responded Monday with the below statement, metaphorically jumping off the top rope.

As we doubt CNN will carry it, we have it in its entirety: 

“A number of politicians and their lobbying partners in the media have recently sought to disparage Smith & Wesson. Some have had the audacity to suggest that after they have vilified, undermined and defunded law enforcement for years, supported prosecutors who refuse to hold criminals accountable for their actions, overseen the decay of our country’s mental health infrastructure, and generally promoted a culture of lawlessness, Smith & Wesson and other firearm manufacturers are somehow responsible for the crime wave that has predictably resulted from these destructive policies. But they are the ones to blame for the surge in violence and lawlessness, and they seek to avoid any responsibility for the crisis of violence they have created by attempting to shift the blame to Smith & Wesson, other firearm manufacturers and law-abiding gun owners.

It is no surprise that the cities suffering most from violent crime are the very same cities that have promoted irresponsible, soft-on-crime policies that often treat criminals as victims and victims as criminals. Many of these same cities also maintain the strictest gun laws in the nation. But rather than confront the failure of their policies, certain politicians have sought more laws restricting the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens, while simultaneously continuing to undermine our institutions of law and order. And to suppress the truth, some now seek to prohibit firearm manufacturers and supporters of the 2nd Amendment from advertising products in a manner designed to remind law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutional right to bear arms in defense of themselves and their families.

To be clear, a Smith & Wesson firearm has never broken into a home; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never assaulted a woman out for a late-night run in the city; a Smith & Wesson firearm has never carjacked an unsuspecting driver stopped at a traffic light.

Instead, Smith & Wesson provides these citizens with the means to protect themselves and their families.

We are proud of our 170-year history. We are proud of the commitment of our employees to making a quality product. We are proud to provide law-abiding citizens and law enforcement – our customers – with the tools to provide for their security and independence. We are proud of our responsible business practices.

We will continue to work alongside law enforcement, community leaders and lawmakers who are genuinely interested in creating safe neighborhoods. We will engage those who genuinely seek productive discussions, not a means of scoring political points. We will continue informing law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutionally-protected right to defend themselves and their families. We will never back down in our defense of the 2nd Amendment.”