Dick’s Supporting Gun Control
Dicks pulls assault rifles and other assault style weapons from its shelves.
Major backlash has been directed towards the company.
Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz went on a shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and killed 17 people. The gun he purchased, an AR-15 semi-automatic-style weapon, was from Dick’s Sporting goods. The gun is a highly deadly, military-inspired rifle. This gun has also been used by other mass shooters, like the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook massacre.
In Florida there is no waiting period for buying an AR-15, ut there is a three-day waiting period for purchasing a handgun. Not only is there no waiting period, but the State of Florida does not require the soon-to-be gun owner to obtain a license to buy a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. Additionally, in Florida anyone over the age of 18 is able to buy a gun with the conditions that they fill out an identification form and pay for an eight-dollar background check. Considering these circumstances, it is likely Cruz faced little challenge when purchasing his weapon.
Dick’s CEO Ed Stack, in an interview, said the company would no longer sell assault-style firearms or high-capacity magazines. “We’re taking these guns out of all of our stores permanently,” Stack said https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/28/dicks-sporting-goods-guns-assault-rifle . He also announced that Dick’s would impose a ban on sales of guns to those under age 21.
This change was brought on by the knowledge that the shooter purchased his firearm from the local Dicks Sporting Goods. The store sold him the gun by the book, but after hearing news of the shooting, Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. came to the decision to end the sale of all assault-style weapons in its stores. This is huge considering that the store is one of the largest sports sellers. Not only did they pull those weapons, they raised their age requirement to 21 years. Additionally, they are removing items from its website that resemble similar weapons including non-lethal airsoft guns and toys.
Stack moreover urged Congress to act comprehensively not only on background checks but also on mental health and other solutions.
Other stores followed suit, including Walmart, which stopped the sale of AR-15 guns and other semi-automatic weapons and accessories in 2015, but now has raised the age minimum to 21 years. Other stores, including Chubb, Best Western, Delta and Hertz have all cut ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. is ready for and aware of the backlash they may receive as a result of this decision, but their position will not change. Stack, a gun owner himself, supports the second amendment but believes that based on what has happened in our recent history, there needs to be change.
This was the gun used in the Parkland, Florida shooting, which sparked the big changes in the company.
