Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- On December 18, 2012, Dick’s Sporting Goods suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles across the country. The decision was reported by nbcbayarea.com on 18 December, just 4 days after the mass murder at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Connecticut.
“We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community.
“Out of respect for the victims and their families, during this time of national mourning we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chainwide.
“We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this terrible tragedy. “
Dick’s responded quickly to the emotional appeals of the dominant national media. Note that Dick’s said they suspended the sale. They did not say they would never sell modern sporting rifles again. In fact, they resumed the sale of AR-15 type rifles and other modern sporting rifles by August of 2013. From nbcnews.com, August 20, 2013:
Gun control activists praised the chain’s decision at the time. But this weekend Dick’s opened the first store in a new chain called Field & Stream that specializes in hunting and fishing products, and a call to the store in Cranberry Township, Penn., reveals that Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifles are for sale.
“We have a full stock,” said a clerk who identified himself as Gary. He said the guns retailed for $800, and that the gun counter was “really busy.”
Now Dick’s is once again bending to the enormous pressure of the elite media and other parts of the Progressive political machine. Dick’s CEO has fully caved. Dick’s has gone all out for the politically correct response. It is the easy thing to do when faced with enormous pressure. It takes courage to oppose the group-think sponsored by nearly all the national media. Dick’s now supports enacting extreme controls, far beyond any laws now in place.
Dick’s now supports:
Banning assault-style firearms – by many definitions, this would be most semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols in the country, and would include many pump action shotguns.
Forbidding the sale of guns to adult citizens under the age of 21 – It is hard to see how this would pass constitutional muster.
Banning high capacity magazines and bump stocks – Bump stocks have only been used once in a mass murder. “High capacity” usually refers to standard capacity magazines for most rifles and pistols.
Banning private sales by requiring government permission before any gun is sold – This requires a national registration of guns to be useful. None of the recent mass murders would have been affected by this proposed legislation.
There is no evidence that any of these measures would prevent future mass school murders. Even in Australia, the extreme gun laws, similar to these proposals in many ways, did not reduce mass shooting in schools.
Dick’s once again takes the easy, “politically correct” action. It is far easier than opposing the emotionally driven agenda.
©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
It doesn’t seem logical that a business would cater to the side that won’t do business with them and alienate the people that would, or could, do business with them. Keep lookout for a going out of business sale. The only thing I ever bought from them was a box of 22LR shells when they had them on sale. I was not impressed with them or their prices.
Dixk’s is now Eunuchs!
That’s funny.
My son has been shooting, since he was 3. He respects his family, school, friends and the law. He is an honor student, works hard plays sports, and may be going into the navy just like many others in our family. He is 17 and if he wants to buy his own gun he dam well has the right to. He already has 3. And if I walk into a Dicks Store and they refuse to sell him one I will own their company by the time it is all said and done. If its not a state or fedral… Read more »
What, exactly, is ‘fedral’ law? Does that have anything to do with FEDERAL law? Hey, dolt, better get your act together before you take on Dick’s.
Dicks is accurately named! This retailer never has been a good gun store in my opinion. Same goes for LL Bean. These folks have the right to operate in the manner they choose. Other firearm retailers will surely benefit. The free market works!
At our local dick store….we would not reccomend anyone buying a firearm from them, they have no knowledge about firearms, etc. Now after this news, we will boycott the dick store. There are plenty of other stores! We also boycott any store or restaurant that has gun free zones, or will not allow concealed firearms. Remember the restaurant that features the bloomin onion? We had a nice family group that went there to eat, until a memeber of our family told us about then incident in TN. with a law enforcement officer that was denied service because of his carry… Read more »
I never have been a big fan of DICK anyway, pun intended !
Just cut up my dicks card.Will not miss the incompetent uninformed staff at the local (Deptford N.J.) store. The staff doe’s not know state firearms laws , they have poor attitudes . Products are always out of stock contrary to online inventory,.and prices are not that great. Yes I will not miss this libtard company at all
Yup. I haven’t purchased anything from “Dick” since the last time he banned semi-auto rifles. The store just simply doesn’t exist in my world.
i say we should all cast our vote for “Dicks” new policy. We should do that by voting our dollars to those that support our second amendment rights. When the president of “Dick” is looking for a job after his company fails, we should remind him that he as a yellow streak right up his back. that he gave in to public pressure and he did nothing to really effect gun violence.
@ Dee J
I banned Dick Heads after their post New Town stunt with customer pre ordered,pre paid for Troy rifles,haven’t missed them one bit.
You meant to say ‘affect’ gun violence, not ‘effect’. Have someone with a command of English edit your posts because you appear in print to be a total dolt.
Went one better, I banned ALL products from Prick’s. They won’t sell me anything.
Lib/Dem caving owners are just living up to the companies name……… They too, are now DICKS !
Dick’s is a sporting goods shop for Liberals.
“Forbidding the sale of guns to adult citizens under the age of 21 – It is hard to see how this would pass constitutional muster.” — Oh, please. The sale of handguns to anyone under the age of 21 was prohibited when the Gun Control Act of 1968 became law. I don’t see any judges or NRA officials claim that didn’t “pass constitutional muster.” Once government officials, from SCOTUS justices on down, have “interpreted” the RKBA to be a de facto “privilege” then all sorts of restrictions and prohibitions can be construed to “pass constitutional muster.” “None of the recent… Read more »
@d h t d n s s, Once Congress has extended Constitutional Civil Rights down to a certain age, Congress can not take those Constitutional Civil Rights away. As to the GCA of 1968 that, too, is unconstitutional because Congress has no authority to use the commerce power to diminish a prepolitical Civil Right. The Kennedy and King murders played no part in Congress passing the GCA. Congress did not care a whit about those murders. Bobby Seals paraded up and down Pennsylvania Ave with a loaded shotgun and shouted, ” By what ever means necessary.” Then the GCA was introduced and passed. I did not… Read more »
‘If I owned Texas and Hell I would rent out Texas and live in Hell’ – General William Tecumseh Sherman. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Wild Bill.
@"MCCLOUD!" I only mentioned it because it was the day Texas declared independence and Travis, Crockett and the boys were surrounded at the Alamo.
WTF? You never have anything of substance to say Stuporman. I’m beginning to believe the theory about trolls being paid per comment &/or response. I will henceforth cease responding to you, now that I realize I may be subsidizing you.
We don have mass school shootings in Australia, so there is no quantity to reduce, Dean.
We can still hunt and shoot with most actions and if you are a farmer semi automatic s are readily available. Handguns available to people that have joined handgun clubs.
By assault rifle we all know what is meant and it doesn’t mean your Browning BAR…
So not sure what you’re going on about .
Oz
And your point is? He’s talking about the USA, not Australia. Last time I checked, Australia didn’t have a 2nd amendment. You’re comparing apples to oranges. Different governments, different populations. Too many variables to the equation to compare Australia to USA.
I don’t bother with Dick’s,haven’t since their post Newtown company statement,I will not support any company that doesn’t recognize my cicil rights. Never Dick’s,Dick’s Never.