Profits Before Schoolkids

'In March the National Rifle Association coordinated a demonstration against new gun legislation in Connecticut, the state where 26 children and staff were gunned down at an elementary school in December. Before boarding buses headed for the state capital, gun owners met up at a parking lot in nearby East Hatford - a parking lot owned by sporting goods store Cabela's.'     (Forbes, 22 May) The location was no accident--they were guests of the owners. With 40 stores and a strong Internet and mail catalogue business, Cabela's sells everything from fishing rods to wool slippers. But guns are the real money-maker, and while fears of future gun restrictions have spurred sales for the entire industry, no company has benefited quite like Cabela's.   Shares have increased by 95% in the last year and are up more than 70% already in 2013. The company's two biggest shareholders, founders Richard and James Cabela, have seen the value of their combined 25% stake jump to $1.2 billion from $750 million at the start of 2013. With profits like that the lives of school kids mean nothing to the owning class. RD