We at DICK’S Sporting Goods are deeply disturbed and saddened by the tragic events in Parkland. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their loved ones. https://t.co/J4OcB6XJnu pic.twitter.com/WmT50BO7mx
— DICK’S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 28, 2018
Dick’s Sporting Goods Store legally sold Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland, FL shooter, a gun. Not the gun he used to commit that horrific crime, but still. Now, they are taking responsibility and altering their gun sales policies in the interest of combating our nation’s gun violence epidemic.
In a statement released today, the popular sporting goods chain affirmed that “We support and respect the Second Amendment, and we recognize and appreciate that the vast majority of gun owners in this country are responsible, law-abiding citizens. But we have to help solve the problem that’s in front of us. Gun violence is an epidemic that’s taking the lives of too many people, including the brightest hope for the future of America – our kids.”
In that vein, they have committed to doing the following in response to the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL:
- We will no longer sell assault-style rifles, also referred to as modern sporting rifles. We had already removed them from all DICK’S stores after the Sandy Hook massacre, but we will now remove them from sale at all 35 Field & Stream stores.
- We will no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21 years of age.
- We will no longer sell high capacity magazines.
- We never have and never will sell bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly.
According to The Daily Dot, while they have removed all sporting rifles from their stores after the Sandy Hook shooting, they brought them back to its hunting store, Field & Stream. However, Dick’s CEO Edward Stack “said the change would be permanent this time” for all their stores.
In addition to the changes they are willing to make, they are also calling on our government to make necessary changes as well, asking for our elected officials “to enact common sense gun reform” that would include:
- Ban assault-style firearms
- Raise the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21
- Ban high capacity magazines and bump stocks
- Require universal background checks that include relevant mental health information and previous interactions with the law
- Ensure a complete universal database of those banned from buying firearms
- Close the private sale and gun show loophole that waives the necessity of background checks
This is a STORE THAT SELLS GUNS, asking for this, people. This is a chain that deals regularly with guns and gun owners, one that is literally in the business of guns. And yet even THEY see the problem and are proposing solutions that would make sense. That’s how bad the problem has gotten. It’s gotten so bad that not even capitalism is a strong enough force to allow Dick’s Sporting Goods to turn a blind eye anymore. Here’s hoping that other companies follow their lead.
Naturally, not everyone is happy with Dick’s Sporting Goods right now, with many seeing a private company enacting sales policies to their own business as somehow an affront to other people’s constitutional rights. And before anyone starts, no, this is not the same as a company deciding not to bake a gay couple a wedding cake.
In that case, you are discriminating against someone’s identity and denying them a service you happily provide to others. In the case of Dick’s, this is them choosing not to sell certain items outright. The one restriction they have that would be applied to individuals is an age restriction, and we restrict things based on age: All. The. Time. That’s not discriminating against someone’s entire identity, and the second that person is old enough, they’ll be able to buy whatever is available following all legal procedures.
Still, people are mad:
This is preposterous. Dick’s has no liability for the actions of an individual. If a car dealer sold a vehicle to a person who drove into a crowd of people, would the dealer be responsible? Do you blame Anheuser Busch for DUI related fatalities?
— Tiberius Grott (@Tiberius_Grott) February 28, 2018
No. Also, Dick’s isn’t not selling guns anymore. They’re just not selling certain types of guns. The type most likely to be used in school shooting incidents like the one in Parkland. Take your faulty analogy elsewhere.
Lol dicks will be going out of business very soon
— James (@Jmole09) February 28, 2018
Dude. 1) They’re not a gun store. They sell an array of sporting goods that people will continue to happily buy. 2) For every person who specifically loves sporting rifles SO MUCH that they won’t shop here again, there are many more who will START shopping here precisely BECAUSE of this decision. Their business will be fine, if not significantly improved.
Thankfully, there are an equal amount of people who are standing by the company, sometimes hilariously:
Bye bye dick
— Neil (@Neil_Before_Zod) February 28, 2018
You might lose some customers, but you have gained others. Thank you
— carnage4u (@bgiese42) February 28, 2018
I have bought the majority of my kids’ sports clothes/equipment at your store for years. Already liked your company. Now I love & am grateful for your company. I’ll been an even more loyal customer now. Thank you. You are on the right side of history. #thankfulmomofthree
— Lisa Iddings Fish (@LISASFAR) February 28, 2018
As a hunter, I’m excited about this change. I don’t like to stand at a gun counter with gun nuts drooling over the latest human killer. I’m there looking for a hunting rifle, a piece of hunting equipment, not a focus of obsession that I’m going to sleep with at night.
— Anthony Valenzano (@axv129) February 28, 2018
As a licensed firearm owner and concealed carrier I support your right and choice to not sell firearms. I was not a customer of yours, but I am now. I appreciate a company that puts thought into the product it sells. Thanks.
— Brian H (@BrianNoHart) February 28, 2018
The most infuriating-yet-hopeful thing happening right now is that, as our government seems ill-equipped to care for its citizens, private citizens and companies are stepping up and stepping in to fill in the gaps of what our country needs. Here’s hoping that more follow suit.
And sadly, if our elected officials won’t listen to the citizens who put them in office, perhaps they will, at the very least, listen to the businesses whose interests they supposedly have at heart. Even capitalism is trying to be on the right side of this, y’all. That’s how you know it’s serious.
(image: Dick’s Sporting Goods)
Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!
—The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—
