Detective Barbara J. Mattson holds up a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, the same model used by Adam Lanza in the Sandy Hook School shooting. Jessica Hill, File / AP

Freedom Group

As the parent company of Bushmaster, maker of the rifle used by Adam Lanza in the 2012 Newtown massacre, Freedom Group, a privately-held conglomerate, has been under intense scrutiny. Cerberus Capital Management, the New York-based private equity firm that owns Freedom Group, has faced public pressure to unload its stake in the company.

George Kollitides II, the CEO, sits on the nominating committee of the NRA. The company also owns Remington Outdoor Co., which bills itself as “America's oldest factory that still makes its original product: guns.”

Remington’s profits surged 52 percent in the first year after Newtown, as consumers rushed to buy guns, fearing stricter laws. But since then, the company has struggled. Known for shotguns and rifles, Remington has reeled from a major 2014 recall, with the company promising to replace millions of triggers on reports of false firings. Last year, revenue dropped 20 percent to $1 billion, as analysts say rifle demand is less robust than demand for handguns.