After Dropping Assault Rifles, Dick's Starts Lobbying for Gun Control

[appalachiablue]

Source: Bloomberg

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. is taking a step further to advocate for gun control, part of a rapid transition for the retailer that’s also a major vendor of firearms in the U.S.

The company has retained Glover Park Group to lobby congress on the matter, according to a disclosure form filed in late April. The move is unusual for a firm in the retail sector, where few brands tackle such a politically-charged issue for fear it will turn off customers.

Following a mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school in February, Dick’s announced it would stop selling assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines. It also increased the firearms purchase age to 21.

Dick’s, the biggest sporting-goods retailer in the U.S., was one of many brands to eschew the gun industry following the shooting. Walmart Inc., Kroger Co., L.L. Bean Inc., and Orvis Co. all made changes to their firearms offerings. Other companies severed ties with the National Rifle Association as a result of nationwide protests that followed the Parkland attack.

Chief Executive Officer Edward Stack said at the time that while the company supports second-amendment rights, "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."

(Pause the Video to finish the article).

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-03/dick-s-sporting-goods-ramps-up-gun-control-push-hires-lobbyist

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. Thanks.

Relief to know that there's a little sunshine on that front.

[marble falls]

2. Xhocked and pleased. How well do they treat their employees?

[SCVDem]

3. A true sportsman will not be affected.

Bolt action or pump is still plenty fast. Ask the SS guarding JFK.

We have theme parks of all manner so let's have shooting parks. I know these exist, so let's make them more popular so people can get their jollies shooting everything from a .22 to a howitzer. Bring a lot of money! Ammo ain't cheap.

Long rifles are legal. Short barrel assault/military type, ehhh, not so much.

[RockRaven]

4. Call me cynical

but this is happening
a) to avoid a potential boycott if they kept selling semi-auto rifles
b) to reduce chances of being target of negligence/wrongful death lawsuits after guns they sell are used in shootings
c) for free publicity as good-guy sporting goods outlet given recent public opinion polling
and not for any altruistic reasons

[appalachiablue]

5. You're right. You are cynical. And all have the right to an opinion.

[MichMan]

6. You forgot one

Trying to ensure that they don't lose any customers to their competitors

[H2O Man]

7. Respectfully disagree.

The current owner's father, who started the original store, was a close friend of my uncle. I know their family was effected by the shooting of my cousin and his son a couple years ago. They are decent people, with consciences.

[RockRaven]

9. You certainly might be correct

as you have some personal knowledge...

but they didn't make this change after the Las Vegas shooting, nor after the Orlando shooting. But after Parkland the public opinion polling on gun control shifted, and thus far the shifts have persisted. So to me it seems more like going with the wind rather than standing against it out of some principle.

Either way I'm glad they're doing it, but I'm not going to swoon over it.

[IronLionZion]

15. Gun nuts are boycotting them

and they apparently decided there are more customers on the gun control side and less on the gun nut side so it's worth it.

[Crowman2009]

8. Hey GM! Can you ban NRA discounts so I can watch these idiots destroy their trucks?

I want to see them destroy more of their expensive shit, then run out of money to buy guns.

[mountain grammy]

10. Proud to say, I shopped at Dick's today

Bought my granddaughter a portable lacrosse goal for her birthday tomorrow. Great service.

[appalachiablue]

11. Good for you & glad to know about service. I need new sneakers, off to Dick's :)

[Honeycombe8]

12. Yay! Hopefully that means the NRA is losing at least a bit of power. nt

[Hortensis]

13. Good for them. Those high school kids cracked this open.

[SergeStorms]

14. I'm glad....

some retailers are starting to see the light. Bucking the NRA is a tough stance to take for an outdoor sporting goods retailer. I don't know how much of a difference it will make, but it's a start. Until recently anything like this was considered a non-starter for any retailer.

[Mosby]

16. this is exactly what's needed

Interested parties lobbying against the NRA positions. Good for them.

[inwiththenew]

17. Why not stop selling firearms and ammuntion altogether?

They already removed assaults weapons from almost all their stores after Sandy Hook. They should really put their money where their mouth is if they want to make a difference.