Dicks Sporting Goods recently announced it will go beyond thoughts and prayers with its actions in response to the terrorist incident at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Dicks CEO Ed Stack announced on ABCs Good Morning America that they will immediately end sales of military-style assault rifles and will implement a minimum buying age of 21.
Nineteen-year-old Nikolas Cruz, who massacred 17 of his fellow classmates, purchased a shotgun at the retailer in November.
“We did everything by the book. We did everything that the law required, and still he was able to buy a gun,” Stack said. “When we looked at that, we said the systems that are in place across the board just aren’t effective enough to keep us from selling a gun like that.
“And so we’ve decided we’re not going to sell the assault-type rifles any longer.”
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Statement from Dick’s Sporting Goods after they said they will no longer sell assault style rifles in their store and won’t sell firearms to anyone under the age of 21: “Thoughts and prayers are not enough.
The company has 715 locations across the country and is one of the largest chain retailers of firearms. Dick’s Sporting Goods already had pulled assault-style weapons from Dick’s stores after the Sandy Hook shooting; now it will also stop selling the weapons at its subsidiary Field & Stream stores.
Stack said the decision to eliminate assault-style rifles is permanent.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” the company said in a statement issued Wednesday morning. “But thoughts and prayers are not enough. We have tremendous respect and admiration for the students organizing and making their voices heard regarding gun violence in schools and elsewhere in our country.
