“Dick’s Sporting Goods will no longer sell assault-style firearms, will ban high-capacity magazines and will not sell any guns to people younger than 21”
^ I’ve never shopped there, but I think I’ll buy some sporting goods online today.
I think its a great marketing move for them. CEO was on CNN this morning. When asked about lost sales, he said that was not a concern at all. But I am willing to bet that at least one person involved in the decision making process knew the annual sales of the weapons/magazines they will no longer sell and of guns to people under 21. And determination was made that benefit of the policy in terms of increased sales will outweigh the losses.
And that is fine if a company reaps profits from their policy decisions. That’s how the free market works and kind of the point of this thread. Hit 'em where it hurts. Shop places that align with your values. It’s done in many ways already. For example, people shop where there is good customer service, fair or generous return policies, and stances that expose values their customers share - Whole Foods, Patagonia, B Corps as examples.
Money talks.
Do you have a financial planner? He or she can advise you on ethical investments. We told ours to steer clear of tobacco, porn, and other social ills. There are several funds that do this.
With the kid involved with all his sports over the years, I have spent a lifetime at Dick’s. Never saw anyone in the gun department. And they have put many sporting good retailers out of biz in my area. They are the only one left. So almost no risk to them. And online doesn’t work when he tells me he needs it tomorrow am. 
I’m sure company management is also cognizant of the polls showing 70% favor stricter gun control laws.
Do all DSGs sell guns? I have been to several over the years and I don’t think I have ever seen a gun department. May well have just walked or looked past it without noticing.
There was a 911 call by the shooter’s foster mother that referenced how the shooter was talking about going to Dick’s and buying a gun. He did go there and buy a gun, but not the one used in the shooting. I’m sure that was quite a wake up call for Dick’s. I wish Academy had reacted similarly after the Sutherland church shooting a few months ago.
It’s great to see a business just cut through the expected political red tape and just do something right.
A lot depends on the question asked in those “polls.”
Seems like the story of other sporting goods retailers is that many of them were acquired by Sports Authority in its expansion-by-acquisition binge, but it could not manage itself well and may have overexpanded (and apparently had to have perpetual rotating sales to move inventory), so it went out of business. Dick’s seems to have taken over a few former Sports Authority locations (and bought the loyalty program list), but has passed on others.
The hunting / guns / archery section may be in a back corner of the store. At least it was in one that I know of.
According to their press release, they own a shop called Field and Stream and that was the shop selling ARs. Dick’s hadn’t sold them for a while (if ever).
According to this article, Dick’s stopped selling assault style rifles in its main stores after Sandy Hook. And a few months later they started selling them at its Field and Stream stores. CEO says this time the changes will be permanent. Though that is only true until they decide to change them. Article indicates they have 35 Field and Stream stores across the country.
Did they cut through expected political red tape to do the right thing? Maybe though they may well have just made what they viewed as a good marketing move with which some people agree. As noted, they did it before but later change their mind.
Here’s the actual press release which contains the handful of other steps Dick’s is implementing as well as their statement imploring elected officials to enact commonsense gun laws.
Here’s part of the press release that I would think everyone could get behind:
"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.
We deeply believe that this country’s most precious gift is our children. They are our future. We must keep them safe."
What do the say about common sense? It ain’t so common?
I’m not even sure what a “common sense” law is. Legislating is always about balancing rights in conflict. Reasonable people can disagree.
Sure you can disagree. And you can keep posting here trying to put up comments against it. However, there is momentum right now and that is driven by the fact that the majority of Americans do feel changes are needed and warranted. This thread is about that as evidenced by the title.
The one proposal that seems to have almost universal support is universal background checks for gun buyers. Perhaps that may fall under the definition of “common sense” for most people?
https://poll.qu.edu/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2521
(Question 56 on the linked page has more demographic breakdowns.)
https://news.walmart.com/2018/02/28/walmart-statement-on-firearms-policy
"In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age. "
"We are also removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys. "
It also mentions that they:
- stopped selling modern sporting rifles (like the AR-15) back in 2015
- do not sell hanguns (except in Alaska)
- do not sell bump stocks or high capacity magazines
- unlike federal law, it requires background checks and will not allow a sale until the request is approved
Yeah. We have those already.
^^^^I honestly don’t know for sure, but we don’t “have those already” at gun shows or between private individuals, true?