Newspaper Defends Gun Manufacturers An NSSF round of applause goes out to The Republican of Springfield, Mass., for its editorial last week in response to an activist's off-the-mark comments about gun manufacturers. During an appearance in Springfield, the Rev. Lennox S. Yearwood said gun manufacturers should shoulder the blame for the nation's gun violence problem. In response, The Republican wrote, "Springfield does have a gun maker in one of its neighborhoods. Smith & Wesson, which manufactures handguns for law enforcement agencies around the world, is only a block away from the Central High School. It's a good neighbor, a good citizen and a good employer. The spike in gun violence in Springfield and other Northeast cities needs to be addressed by activists such as Yearwood and the community leaders who hear his message, but let's not blame the gun makers. It's a job for all of us – parents, teachers and community leaders."