Dick's Sporting Goods will immediately end sales of assault-style rifles in its stores and won't sell guns to anyone under 21 years old following the school massacre in Parkland, Florida.
Dick's Chairman and CEO Edward Stack said on "Good Morning America" Wednesday that after the shooting the company "felt it needed to do something."
Stack says that the gunman, Nickolas Cruz, had purchased a gun at a Dick's store, but not the one used at the school shooting, even though all existing rules were followed. Stack says that the system that's in place won't stop sales to dangerous people and said lawmakers must do something.
Stack said Dick's is prepared for any potential backlash, but will not change its policies on gun sales.
The company said the decision to remove assault-style weapons will impact 35 Field & Stream stores. It had previously stopped selling the weapons from its Dick's locations after the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.Â
Dick's decision comes amid a growing corporate backlash against the National Rifle Association (NRA), with companies scrutinizing their investments, co-branding deals and other ties to the gun industry following the Parkland shooting, in which 17 students and teachers were killed. A handful of companies have ended their discount programs with the NRA as the group aggressively resists calls for stricter gun control.
Dick's Sporting Goods also said it will stop selling high-capacity magazines. It added that it has never "and never will sell bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly."
(The Associated Press, CBS News contributed to this report.)
But thoughts and prayers are not enough. 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. https://t.co/J4OcB6XJnu pic.twitter.com/6VoKwJe8tH
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 28, 2018
We deeply believe that this country's most precious gift is our children. They are our future. We must keep them safe. Beginning today, DICK'S Sporting Goods is committed to the following: https://t.co/J4OcB6XJnu pic.twitter.com/BaTJ9LaCYe
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 28, 2018
At the same time, we implore our elected officials to enact common sense gun reform and pass the following regulations: https://t.co/J4OcB6XJnu pic.twitter.com/VUuFKkyk6c
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 28, 2018
