The Califrornia State Teachers' Retirement System, the second-largest pension fund in the U.S., announced in an official release that it's going to exit from stocks of certain firearms makers. In particular, this means Smith & Wesson (SWBI 1.66%) and Sturm Ruger (RGR 0.52%).
Although CalSTRS does not hold relatively large stakes in either manufacturer -- it has around $1.1 million worth of the former, and $1.8 million in the latter -- the fund's size and prominence make it likely that the move will be followed by other large financial investors.
The CalSTRS divestment follows a call from California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer to exit from firms that make firearms prohibited by law to be sold or owned in the state.
