LMT Defense Pledges $25,000 to Spirit of Blue

LMT Defense (Lewis Machine & Tool) has pledged $25,000 in annual support of the Spirit of Blue Foundation and the work the organization does to help protect law enforcement officers across the nation. Most of the donation will come from the sales of a special-edition patrol rifle sold by Keisler’s Police Supply—a firm that specializes in reasonably priced equipment for officers who must purchase their own duty gear. 

The firearm—the SPM16LE—is a version of LMT’s SPM16, but it’s enhanced with a Magpul MOE handguard, MOE stock and rear MBUS flip sight. It ships with a standard GI sling, includes one 30-round magazine, comes with a Spirit of Blue challenge coin, costs only $911 and $100 of that will go to the non-profit organization. It’s only available to law-enforcement officers.

Those of us who don’t protect and serve can help in other ways, though. LMT Defense has also planned an assortment of other social media fundraisers to help generate money for Spirit of Blue throughout the year. The company launched its support of the non-profit organization in 2016 with a donation of three patrol rifles for the Cicero (NY) Police Department.

“When we first shared about our work with LMT and the needs for increased safety equipment across the law enforcement community they were very quick to pledge their support,” commented Ryan T. Smith, Executive Director of the Spirit of Blue. “LMT Defense is known the world over as producing an incredibly high-quality and high-performing product. It is exciting to think that officers without issued rifles will be able to get an LMT rifle at such an affordable price.”

Since 2011, the Spirit of Blue Foundation has awarded 47 grants in 24 states valued at more than $200,000. The grants have varied from patrol rifles, body armor, riot control gear, AEDs, K9s, forensic software, flashlights, police/youth dialogue training, night-vision optics, LED flares, ballistic helmets and self-contained breathing apparatus.