RESOLVED: Shareholders request the Board of Directors issue a report, at reasonable expense and excluding proprietary information, on the company’s activities related to gun and ammunition safety measures and the mitigation of harm associated with gun products.

WHEREAS,

Gun violence is a public health crisis with extraordinary human and financial costs. Given our commitment to safety and responsibility, it is imperative that we assess all options for decreasing the societal impact of gun violence and mitigate financial and reputational risks for the company.

The Gun Violence Archive’s recent research found gun deaths up by 19% and gun injuries up 24% from 2014-2018.[1] Despite being a contentious issue, a recent Quinnipiac Poll shows support for sensible gun policy is at an all-time high and is holding steady. Background checks are favored by 94% of the population likely to vote[2] and survey participants also support a ban on sales of assault weapons (65%), a ban on sales of guns to people convicted of a violent crime (91%), and  stricter regulations on ammunition sales (62%).[3] Additionally, a recent study in the American Journal of Public Health found that almost 60% of Americans report they would be willing to buy a smart gun when considering a purchase.[4]

Evidence shows that the American public, in ever greater numbers, is demanding a safer and more responsible firearms industry, including:

• Evidence of best practice procedures concerning the sale or transfer of firearms and ammunition, including as it relates to keeping firearms out of the hands of children, criminals, individuals with mental health challenges, and anyone else prohibited from possessing them under federal law;
• Efforts underway to research and advance the development of safer gun products; and
• The promotion of gun safety education at the point of sale and in communities.

Olin Corporation (“Olin”) represents itself as a company committed to integrity and being a “good steward of Olin products and materials over their life cycle to ensure prudent and safe development, sourcing, production, use, handling, transportation, and disposal/recycle.” However, as a manufacturer of firearms ammunition and as the licensor of the Winchester brand to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company that produces firearms, Olin faces increasing scrutiny and reputational risk in its value chain for the potential adverse human rights impacts of its products. Additionally, as major retailers, including Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, adopt policies that restrict the sale of firearms and ammunition, Olin faces potential financial risk from this shift in retailer practices.

We believe that information regarding Olin’s actions to implement safety measures will help investors more accurately evaluate the company’s long-term financial and sustainability risks. We urge shareholders to vote for this proposal.

[1] https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

[2] https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2623

[3] https://poll.qu.edu/images/polling/us/us11152017_ucp261.pdf/

[4] https://www.jhsph.edu/news/news-releases/2016/survey-most-americans-support-smart-guns.html