Dick's Sporting Goods Ends All Assault Rifles Sales

DETROIT, MI – Dick's Sporting Goods, the nation's largest sporting goods retailer, is halting sales of assault-style weapons like the one used in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting earlier this month. The Pittsburgh-based retailer announced this morning it's making the changes to "to let our kids know that their pleas are being taken seriously."

The retailer previously ended sales of assault rifles at its sporting goods stores after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012. Today, Edward W. Stack, company's CEO and chairman, said it would no longer sell the rifles at its affiliated Field & Stream shops. Here in the Detroit Metro area, there is one such store on West 14 Mile Road in Troy.

Stack acknowledged that Dick's in November legally sold a shotgun to accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz. "It was not the gun, nor type of gun, he used in the shooting," Stack said. "But it could have been."

Dick's also no longer will sell firearms to anyone under the age of 21 and is stopping the sale of high capacity magazines, the company said Wednesday.

"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," said Stack in a message posted to the retailer's web site.

"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.

As it makes the changes at its stores, the company also is demanding that elected officials take action, too. Stack said that the company wants a ban on assault rifles and high capacity magazines and bump stocks, raise the minimum age to purchase guns to 21, and require universal background checks that include relevant mental health information and previous interactions with the law.

The company also has asked the government ensure a complete universal database of those banned from buying firearms and end the private sale and gun show loophole that waives the necessity of background checks.

"We hope others join us in this effort to let our kids know that their pleas are being taken seriously," Stack said.

The executive said he expects some blow back from the change.

"Some will say these steps can’t guarantee tragedies like Parkland will never happen again. They may be correct – but if common sense reform is enacted and even one life is saved, it will have been worth it."

Dick's has more than 715 stores, and more than 125 are combined Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream locations.

File photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images