In an open letter posted to their website, national sporting goods retailer Dick’s has announced it will no longer sell the AR-15 style rifle. It’s one of several changes the company has deiced to make in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shootings.
According to their website, Dick’s Sporting Goods has five West Virginia locations; Morgantown, Clarksburg, South Charleston, Barboursville, and Beckley. The website lists one West Virginia location of a Field & Stream Store in Barboursville.
‘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.” said Dick’s Chairman and CEO Edward Stack.
The letter contends the accused shooter in the deadly shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Nicholas Cruz purchased a shotgun from Dick’s legally last November. Stack contended it wasn’t the gun used in the massacre, but could have been.
The following changes the company has adopted to its policy on firearms sales going forward:
Beginning today, DICK’S Sporting Goods is committed to the following:
–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.
The company in its open letter further encouraged elected members of Congress to take steps to make ban the “assault-style” rifles, close the “gunshow loophole”, ban the sale of bumpstocks and high capacity magazines and to raise the minimum age to buy a firearm to 21. The letter also encouraged a retooling and update of the national database for background checks on buying firearms.