In December 2012 , Cerberus Capital Management announced its intention to sell Bushmaster 's parent company , Freedom Group . In a press release , Cerberus stated that they would " retain a financial advisor to design and execute a process to sell their interests in Freedom Group " ( Freedom includes the former Bushmaster company ) . Cerberus indicated that the decision to sell the company stemmed from publicity surrounding the use of a Bushmaster rifle in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting . According to the company : " It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level . " Cerberus announced in late 2013 that it had failed to deliver on its promise to divest itself of the Freedom Arms group and has come up with a plan to buy out some Cerberus investors . Those who chose to give up their shares would get paid off by an unidentified lender
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
Bushmaster Firearms International