Dicks, Major Gun Retailer, Will Stop Selling Assault-Style Rifles

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

One of the nation’s largest sports retailers, Dick’s Sporting Goods, said Wednesday morning it was immediately ending sales of all assault-style rifles in its stores.

The retailer also said that it would no longer sell high-capacity magazines and that it would not sell any gun to anyone under 21 years of age, regardless of local laws.

The announcement, made two weeks after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that killed 17 students and staff members, is one of the strongest stances taken by corporate America in the national gun debate. It also carries symbolic weight, coming from a prominent national gunseller.

Late last week, after coming under attack on social media for their ties to the National Rifle Association, a number of major companies, including Hertz car rental, MetLife insurance and Delta Air Lines, publicly ended those relationships, issuing brief, carefully phrased statements.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/business/dicks-major-gun-retailer-will-stop-selling-assault-style-rifles.html

---

I didn't even realize they sold them.

[jpak]

1. Wow - this is hugh!

Will Bass Pro be next?

[KewlKat]

4. Does Cabellas sell guns?

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Yes - See post #5 below your post. nt

[paleotn]

9. More than a few.

And they're rather militant about it as well.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Wake me when

Cabela's decides to do this.

[TheOther95Percent]

11. See My Thread Below. I think Goldman Sachs owns a stake

https://nypost.com/2016/10/05/goldman-sachs-a-key-player-in-bass-pro-shops-bid-for-cabelas/

[hlthe2b]

2. well, they will get my business now, along with United, UPS, USPS. n/t

[IronLionZion]

13. USPS?

They're probably against people going postal.

[hlthe2b]

14. USPS won't ship guns (with very very very very limited exceptions)

[sl8]

30. That's accurate with regard to handguns, but I don't think it's accurate for long guns.

https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/may-nonlicensee-ship-firearm-through-us-postal-service

May a nonlicensee ship a firearm through the U.S. Postal Service?

A nonlicensee may not transfer a firearm to a non-licensed resident of another State. A nonlicensee may mail a shotgun or rifle to a resident of his or her own State or to a licensee in any State. The Postal Service recommends that long guns be sent by registered mail and that no marking of any kind which would indicate the nature of the contents be placed on the outside of any parcel containing firearms. Handguns are not mailable. A common or contract carrier must be used to ship a handgun.

Postal Explorer - Mailability
https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_009.htm

[KG]

3. hopefully this is the dawn of social shaming of slaughter culture

[demmiblue]

6. K&R

[handmade34]

8. Please respond positively...

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/s/feedback

[riversedge]

21. Thanks for the link. It is important to give them postive feedback

[NBachers]

40. Done- Here's my feedback:

Dear Dick's Sporting Goods- I had been a customer at a local Sports Authority. I was introduced to Dick's when Sports Authority was folded into your store.

I see through today's New York Times that Dick's will no longer sell AR-15s and other semiautomatic rifles, or high-capacity magazines. You have also raised the age-limit for buying guns. I applaud your decisions. You are doing the right thing.

Based on your new policy, I will move Dick's up on my list of stores to frequent and shop at. Please know that I speak for many, many grateful Americans when I thank you for your wise and prudent new policy.

[handmade34]

43. good feedback

[Cha]

48. Well Done, NBachers!

Thank you!

[appalachiablue]

56. Well said! I second that, bravo & thank you Dick's Sporting Goods!

[TheOther95Percent]

10. I wonder if Shareholders BlackRock and State Street Helped

http://www.pionline.com/article/20180226/ONLINE/180229872/state-street-discloses-it-will-engage-with-weapons-manufacturers-distributors

State Street Corp. (STT) said it plans to engage with weapons manufacturers..."We will be engaging with weapons manufacturers and distributors..."And we will also seek to ensure that any shareholder resources used to influence legislation and regulations, or fund other advocacy efforts is consistent with the company's public views.

"Given our inability to sell shares of a company in an index, even if we disagree with management, we focus on engaging with the company and understanding how they are responding to society's expectations of them," said BlackRock spokesman Ed Sweeney. "We will be engaging with weapons manufacturers and distributors to understand their response to recent events."

As of Dec. 31, BlackRock held 15.8 million shares in American Outdoor Brands, Sturm Ruger and Dick's Sporting Goods valued at $429.9 million

I think Goldman Sachs owns a chunk of Cabelas, which was bought by Bass Pro.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Interesting background info!

[hlthe2b]

15. the original owners of Dicks are really compassionate people. My cousin's dying husband was...

an employee of Dick's when he was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of cancer. They kept him on actively until he could not work any more and stretched out both his disability and medical benefits--(impressive insurance, too) far beyond what any other company I'd heard of would do. I'm told the decision to maintain him with the company's assistance came "from the top".

He died a few months ago, but Dicks was a big reason my cousin (who is like a sister to me) was not totally devastated financially and her husband was able to fight as hard as he did for several years.

[efhmc]

24. What a wonderful and right thing to do.

I have always been a Academy shopper but will switch.

[octoberlib]

16. Dick's is having a 50% off sale right now on outerwear!

40% off North Face outerwear. So, if you need a new winter coat there are some great bargains here.

[Xipe Totec]

17. Live with it. Literally. nt

[mcar]

18. I will have to do more shopping there

[rickford66]

19. The original store is still open here in Binghamton.

[riversedge]

20. Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack: We know theres gonna be some backlash We concluded that if th

Oh happy days..........



CNN
?Verified account @CNN
5m5 minutes ago

Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack: “We know there’s gonna be some backlash… We concluded that if these kids are brave enough to organize and do what they’re doing then we should be brave enough to take this stand.” http://cnn.it/2HS9f0c

Link to tweet

[BeyondGeography]

22. Well done, kids

[BumRushDaShow]

23. "We know theres gonna be some backlash"

I expect many of the people who buy those types of weapons do so at gun shows to get around the rules or online anyway. If anything, they will pick UP more customers by taking a stand that the majority of REAL Americans (not the manufactured "MAGA Americans" ) believe. I know I was planning to get some Eagles Super Bowl stuff there (I don't have one immediately close to me but about 7 miles away).

[zipplewrath]

33. Calculated

I'm just a bit cynical in that I think you're right. There was a calculation here that more actual/potential customers would be supportive. Like you suggest, anyone who was militant enough to care, probably didn't shop at Dick's anyway. Furthermore, depending upon the magnitude of business this represents, there was probably more than a little concern that one day the 19 year old that shoots up a school would have purchased the weapon at Dick's. Why wait around for THAT to happen.

I think there is alot of this in the Delta, et. al. dropping the NRA. It represented to small a fraction of their business, and god forbid that the next Vegas shooter flew there on their NRA discount, stayed at the hotel on their NRA discount, and shot from the NRA discounted rental car.

[BumRushDaShow]

36. Although not specific to the NRA, but similar has happened with Penzey's

where the founder has been active with liberal/progressive causes and has awoken a whole market of folks who buy spices and have now chosen to shop with them (me included, although I did so before they had come out so strongly after this election)!

[OriginalGeek]

47. I had never heard of Penzey's before yesterday

and now I've heard of them twice in two completely different groups (Here and a cooking group I read for ideas) and both for the same reason - that being the owner seems to be a good guy.

I'll have to start ordering spices from them.

[BumRushDaShow]

49. They had opened a store near where I live (but later moved it)

so it was fun going in there and they had so many spices that were hard to get.

Bill Penzey has sent out all kinds of encouraging words with his emails promoting spice sales/availability since the election. In fact, one he sent this past Sunday included this -

And Remembrance. To prepare the quantities needed to highlight a Featured Spice or Seasoning, we really do have to work weeks in advance. With the introduction of Rosemary as the Featured Spice coinciding with the most recent school mass shooting in Florida, I included this quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and a few extra words as well. “There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember.” Before Wednesday there was Sandy Hook. None of that day has been forgotten. The NRA and the politicians who took the NRA’s money to say assault weapons matter more than our children will forever be remembered for Sandy Hook.”

If you are still a member of the NRA, will you please take a closer look at what they've become? Once, they promoted safety, training and the sale of guns to hunters. Today, with both the type of guns they promote and the reasons for ownership, your membership in the NRA directly ties you to the deaths of thousands of innocents each year. If you are still a member, please take the time to google “The letter of resignation sent by George Bush Sr. to the NRA.” He understood what the NRA had become well ahead of most of us.

He ends his powerful letter with: “Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of NRA, said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. Sincerely, [ signed ] George Bush.” If you are still a member, these are words well worth using. The assault weapons ban that was allowed to expire must be brought back, and it's time for thorough background checks before every purchase. This will only happen if politicians who take NRA money and corporations who promote the NRA are held accountable for their actions. Please vote, both at the polls and with your pocketbook.

And free Fox Point Seasoning, but only through tonight. Get yours. It's really good.

Thanks for being the kind of people who build a better future by caring for others. Thanks for being Cooks

Bill
[e-mail]

[OriginalGeek]

51. yep

that guy gets my business.

[Demsrule86]

25. Good for them.

[DownriverDem]

26. And so it goes

This is good news. I know it's about money for these corps, but they know the tide is turning. Just like with Georgia threatening Delta with withdrawing the tax cuts. 4 states stepped up and told Delta they would be welcomed in their states. That's what I thought when Georgia threatened them.

[dlk]

27. We Need to Show Support for Businesses That Stand up to the NRA

Each and every one of us needs to find a way to personally thank the businesses that have stood for decency and the safety of us all. Whether it's going into a Dick's store and personally thanking the manager or writing letters of support to corporate executives, we need to let these businesses that have stood up to the NRA know that we, the majority, are on their side, and they have made not just a good moral decision; they have also made a good business decision.

[forgotmylogin]

28. Now WalMart needs to follow suit (n/t)

[LiberalArkie]

31. Walmart already has

Walmart (WMT), the nation's largest retailer and a major seller of firearms, announced it would stop selling the military-style semiautomatic weapons in August 2015.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/28/news/companies/dicks-weapon-ban/index.html

[mainer]

29. Dick's is my go-to place for cast-iron cookware

and it's made in the USA. Go, Dick's! (and yes, I feel silly typing that.)

It's also where I buy my mittens and work-out stuff.

[mainstreetonce]

39. Thanks

I never thought of cookware.

More online shopping coming right up.

[George II]

32. Great development, but why would a neighborhood chain store sell them in the first place?

[DoctorJoJo]

34. I Am A Gun Owner, And ....

.... Dick's will be my first look for as long as they adhere to this new policy!

[hexola]

35. They did this after Sandy Hook too?

I applaud them - but I think they have done this before - only to resume.

[BumRushDaShow]

37. Here are the specifics on that however

The company stopped selling those military-style semiautomatic weapons in its Dick's-branded stores after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012, but it continued to sell those weapons at its 35 Field and Stream stores.

Now it will pull those weapons from all of its stores.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/28/news/companies/dicks-weapon-ban/index.html

I.e., they probably got more hunters/hunting enthusiasts at the "Field and Stream"-branded stores so kept them there back then vs the generic sporting goods stores that sold all types of sports-related equipment and apparel, and had a broader customer clientele.

Now they are pulling them out of ALL of their stores.

[hexola]

38. Right - so Dicks is just making profit motivated gesture.

Which I'm not going to condemn.

If there is an upside for them in this - I can't blame them for taking advantage of the social bandwagon.

Never really thought of it as gun store - more hunting apparel stuff and outdoorsy stuff.

[still_one]

41. Dicks actually started this after Sandy Hook in their stores except field and stream

Now they have added it to all their stores according to Bloomberg

[angrychair]

42. Its great they are doing this

But they pay practices and how they treat their employees is awful. My son used to work there and quit after be bullied and harassed by his supervisor and manager repeatedly despite being a top seller in their shoe Dept and being there go-to guy when others called in. There has been rolling strikes going on here for months so while I appreciate their new gun stance as a union member I won’t shop there till they resolve that issue.

[Chakaconcarne]

44. Wait, haven't you heard? "Dick's doesn't sell assault weapons."

Getting really tired of hearing that shit..

We have a local school, yes a school, that is raffling off an AR-15 "style" assault rifle for a girl's softball team. But that rifle is "not an AR15", nor is it an "assault rifle" and the raffle started before the massacre in Florida.... So for some... it's all good.

[mgardener]

45. Just went to my local Dicks store

Walked in the mall this am.
And spoke with the manager and told her how pleased I was with the decision.
I was not the first one to thank them either!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

46. Dick's Nix FireSticks . . . . . nt

[shayes51]

50. Do you suppose Georgia will

now ban dicks?

[jmowreader]

55. They'd have to deport two-thirds of the state if they did that

[DesertRat]

52. I drove out of my way to stop by Dicks Sporting Goods today

I bought a new workout top and yoga pants. They're cute, nice quality and were on sale too. I'll be back.

#ILOVEDICKS

[OU65802]

53. Dicks said this after Newtown too

I can’t confirm they actually did but supposedly they haven’t sold these guns for years now.

[BumRushDaShow]

54. I wrote this in post #37 regarding that -

The company stopped selling those military-style semiautomatic weapons in its Dick's-branded stores after the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting in 2012, but it continued to sell those weapons at its 35 Field and Stream stores.

Now it will pull those weapons from all of its stores.

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/28/news/companies/dicks-weapon-ban/index.html

I.e., they probably got more hunters/hunting enthusiasts at the "Field and Stream"-branded stores so kept them there back then vs the generic sporting goods stores that sold all types of sports-related equipment and apparel, and had a broader customer clientele.

Now they are pulling them out of ALL of their stores.

[sarcasmo]

57. Suck it NRA

[Ohio_Democrat18]

58. Good For Them FR

[snort]

59. Oh good,

now you won't be able to buy them.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

60. need GOPers to stop cowering

This is a good move by two big gun sellers.

Now we need Republicans to stop being cowards so we can pass a national ban on semi-automatics and high-capacity magazines.

[BumRushDaShow]

63. Ironically see this

(although his body language speaks volumes in the tweet's video)

Link to tweet

TEXT
NBC News
✔
@NBCNews

WATCH: President Trump asks Sen. Toomey if his bill addresses age limits on firearm purchases.

Sen. Toomey: "We didn't address it, Mr. President."

President: Trump: "You know why? Because you're afraid of the NRA."
3:33 PM - Feb 28, 2018

[Hermit-The-Prog]

66. yep -- transcript

I found a transcript at Vox:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142001002

TrumPutin was putting on a show.
Hope it backfires and makes a big mess.

[BumRushDaShow]

67. And then in a few days

he'll say "I never said that! FAKE NEWS!!!!111!111"

[Hermit-The-Prog]

68. if hannity tells him to

[BumRushDaShow]

69. Heh... or Jeanine Pirro.

[BumRushDaShow]

70. And the back-track has begun!

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142001096

[Beartracks]

61. Radio callers here think that means "only bad guys will have guns."

For some reason, conservatives think bad guys only use guns obtained illegally. And that restrictions on legal sales will therefore only impact good guys, by definition.



Why don't conservatives ever stop and listen to the words coming out of their mouths?

================

[BumRushDaShow]

65. And yet, almost all of the mass shooters bought their weapons LEGALLY

[Olafjoy]

62. Bought me some Dicks

Went to my local Dick’s today. I have never seen it so busy. Needed new gym shoes-check socks-check workout clothes-check. Cashier asked me if I was doing retail therapy. I replied I was a representative for the mothers of America and was there to thank them for their decision on guns. I even provided all my info-and I hate joining store things. So i’m a proud member of Dick’s Club? Must fight back against NRA and if it means buying Dick’s, I buy Dick’s.

[vercetti2021]

64. Bravo!!

I wish we had a Dick's now. All we got is Academy.