SPOKANE, Wash. – Students and teachers across the country have been protesting gun violence in school.
In fact, for many educators, the problem of gun violence has never been more personal.
After a three-month KREM 2 investigation, we have discovered many of the same teachers who are fighting to ban guns like the AR-15 are invested in the same companies that make those weapons through their state-run retirement plan.
When a teacher gets hired, they have to make a choice: Plan 2 or Plan 3. Plan 2 has shares in thousands of companies, and employees are not given a choice when it comes to which companies their money is invested in. Plan 3 offers teachers seven different plan choices, five are specifically not invested in any gun or ammunition manufacturer.
When KREM 2 started questioning the Washington State Investment Board, we learned the vast majority of Washington's teachers are enrolled in Plan 2, a full 59 percent. Under Plan 2, they have thousands and thousands of shares in gun companies. KREM 2 was told it's "not the result of active or targeted investment in these companies, but is a byproduct of owning shares in all-inclusive index funds."
Intentional or not, it all adds up to $3.7 million worth of shares in Olin Corp, which makes Winchester ammunition, among other things, and 1.6 million dollars in shares of companies like Savage Arms, Sturm Ruger, and American Outdoor Brands. All three companies make various models of modern sporting rifles, like the M&P 15 by Smith and Wesson. It is the same one police said the Parkland Florida school shooter used on Valentine's Day to kill 14 of his classmates and three teachers. It is also the same gun that was used in the Aurora Colorado movie theater shooting in 2012. Similar semi-automatic rifles were also used at the Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut, and the Clackamas Town Center mall shooting in Oregon. It is the same one many students and teachers across the country are fighting to keep out of the hands of the next potential shooter.
KREM 2 saw that firsthand when we talked with teachers at a union rally two weeks ago in Downtown Spokane. We asked teachers if they would be surprised that they had money invested in these companies.
“My pension plan!? Well who's deciding that,” one teacher said. "I don't like it. But I don't have any control over it. I don't remember having a choice, I don't remember choosing a box.”
“I believe someone has felt that would expand the portfolio, and if we are not in control of that, then we need to figure out how to get control,” another teacher said.
President of the Spokane Education Association Katy Henry told KREM 2 she had no idea the state had that much money invested in gun manufacturers. She reiterated that teachers under Plan 2 have no say in the matter.
KREM 2 reached out to Spokane Public Schools, as the largest school district in Eastern Washington. In a statement, the district said:
"We acknowledge that the 750,000 employees who make up this Washington State government work force have a variety of retirement investment options... that may include holdings in companies they are not aware of -- including those that may or may not align with their personal values. As with all investment products, we urge employees to understand their options and choose those that align with their values and long-term goals."
It is important to note that once a teacher selects Plan 2 or Plan 3, they cannot change their mind. They are in it for the rest of their career. If a teacher is invested in those gun manufacturers, but does not want to be, there is nothing they can do about it. It is also important to remember, that the $1.6 million figure is a small fraction of total investments in Washington.
KREM 2 did learn, the majority of states in the U.S. have similar programs. Just as an example, if you multiplied this $1.6 million by 40 or 50 states, it adds up to a lot of money for those gun companies.
KREM 2 reached out to school representatives in Idaho to ask about the make up of their teachers' retirement plan but we had not heard back.