LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Dick’s Sporting Goods is making some changes to their stores in the wake of last week’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
The retailer is pulling certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles off its shelves nationwide.
Dick’s says it will also be removing all guns from its stores nearest to Newtown, Connecticut.
The decision came out of respect for the victims and their families “during this time of national mourning,” the store said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this terrible tragedy,” the statement said.
It was unclear how long the store will keep the suspension in place for the guns, known as ‘modern sporting rifles.’
It’s also not known whether this is the first time the store has taken such a step after a shooting that made national headlines.
The move comes after reports that investigators were trying to determine whether the Newtown gunman tried to buy a gun from a Dick’s in Danbury, about 12 miles away.
“At this time, reports that the suspect visited one of our stores last week have not been confirmed by law enforcement,” the sporting goods store said in a statement.
“Based on our records, we can confirm that no firearms were sold to the suspect identified in this case.”
Meantime, Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has pulled the Bushmaster Patrolman’s Carbine M4A3 rifle from its web store, The Nation reports.
The gun, a military-style assault rifle that uses .223 caliber ammunition, is in the same family of guns as the one reportedly used by the Newtown shooter.
Walmart did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment on why it pulled the gun.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, sells more firearms and ammunition than any national competitor, according to several news outlets.
The chain stopped selling guns in one-third of its stores in 2006, citing low demand, but it has expanded its weapons sales in recent years.
A Walmart spokesperson told the Huffington Post that it expanded guns from 1,300 to 1,750 stores in 2011.
Discussions of gun control follow the horrific massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 15.
45 Comments to “Dick’s Sporting Goods Suspends Some Rifle Sales”
December 18, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Pathetic. Punish the rest of us for the actions of one messed up and troubled individual.
December 18, 2012 at 12:07 PM
I shopped at K-Mart for many years. when they stopped selling fire arms because of Rosie O'Donnel i never when back to a K-Mart again . I can say the same for Dick's, have fun going out of business if we sportsman think alike!
December 18, 2012 at 6:05 AM
Okay so let me get this straight… They’re removing certain rifles from their shelves in reaction to a shooting which involved pistols that were taken from someone who obtained them legally? Yeah. That makes perfect sense…
#shakemyhead
December 18, 2012 at 6:27 AM
I will never shop at dicks sporting goods again. They have lost a customer and I hope many more for good.
-extremely irritated hunter and ccw member
December 18, 2012 at 6:28 AM
Idiots. Stop selling BBQ forks because a guy just killed his grandma with one this weekend. Didn't get any headlines…
December 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM
they lost me too
December 18, 2012 at 6:41 AM
1.877.846.9997, only number I can find. I just called and complained about this. I will never shop there again.
December 18, 2012 at 6:48 AM
good it's about time!
December 18, 2012 at 7:00 AM
oops, the like to Michelle ^^ was a mistake….. HUGE DISLIKE!!!!
December 18, 2012 at 7:03 AM
and for my comment….. to those of you with so much to say about gun control……… when the criminal is stickin' an illegal gun in YOUR face, don't ask ARMED POLICE OFFICERS to risk their lives protecting YOU!!!
December 18, 2012 at 7:13 AM
You are right, Just me in Pa. I well never shop there again.
December 18, 2012 at 7:10 AM
This is over the top! Punishing legal, safe, gun owners because a mentally insane young man had access to guns, he clearly shouldn’t have had access to, is not the answer! I understand why the store closest to Newtown removed their guns during this unimaginable tragedy. I am well aware, too, that I can say these things because my child has not been ripped from me by a murderer.
December 18, 2012 at 7:22 AM
A terrible tragedy and I say prayers for the families and victims. I do agree with the Dick's on showing respect for the families and victims. I don't agree with Dick's decision to pull certain types of firearms namely MSR style. I am sure not all employees, stockholders and customers do agree with their decision. If they are trying to make a statement or just a PR move then why don't they address the Paintball and Airsoft guns that are styled after assault weapons. Maybe that hits the bottom line too much. If Dick's is trying to make such a bold statement by not selling handguns or assault style weapons or clips then they have to address the Paintball and Airsoft that has pretty much nothing but handgun and assault styling. Come on Dick's be bold be brave. Even if I am sarcastic with my comments towards Dick's I am so saddened by the loss of the Newtown people.
December 18, 2012 at 7:29 AM
Can you guys pull all your baseball bats as well? More people die from this then firearm related incidents. I will not shop here either and will spread the word into your Minneapolis market.
December 18, 2012 at 7:40 AM
Just another company that does not need my business. Bowing down to libs that are not going to do business with them anyway! It doesn't make sense.
December 18, 2012 at 7:44 AM
I really think it is a stupid idea, how do they get off tthinking that pulling these type of guns is going to change anything at all? The only thing they are doing is making themselves look stupid and loosing money on sales . Dick’s can suck their name …
December 18, 2012 at 7:57 AM
I bought a gun this month from dicks and it will be the last one or thing I ever buy from them again…
December 18, 2012 at 8:11 AM
cant buy from dicks none in cali
December 18, 2012 at 2:55 PM
About 20 of them in SoCal. Take your pick which one to boycott.
December 18, 2012 at 8:12 AM
Just plain stupid enjoy going out of business. Lost my respect
December 18, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Dicks sucks anyway. Does everyone really think this battle is going to end well whatsoever? First limit sales, then before you know it it’s time to turn your guns in.. Well good luck with that, I can guarantee there won’t be many people complying with that. Oh well, dicks go suck what you do best
December 18, 2012 at 9:01 AM
Tragic is all I can say on the event that just went down in CT…..I can't say enough for the family's. BUT….Dick's is trying to make the family's feel safe that just went through a lose….but on the other hand…the family's that are wanting to now feel safe in that community and protect their family and maybe purchase a firearm are out of luck…WELL Not out of luck…they can go to another place that sells firearms and purchase there…So Dick's just told those family members that are going through this sad time to go somewhere else if you want to purchase a firearm to feel safe…..
My money goes somewhere else…..Sorry Dick's
December 18, 2012 at 9:28 AM
strange they stop selling the rifle, but it was pistols that were used to murder the children
December 18, 2012 at 9:41 AM
So sad that so many of you can be so heartless during this horrific time of loss. Perhaps if you were to have this happen to one of your loved ones you might feel a little more compassion.
December 18, 2012 at 10:02 AM
so, stopping sales shows compassion for the act of a mentally deranged person?
December 18, 2012 at 11:11 AM
You’re in the wrong board. There’s other sites for grieving.
December 18, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Haven't seen a single heartless comment here. Perhaps you're on the wrong story?
It wasn't the gun that killed them sweetie, it was the person holding the gun….
December 18, 2012 at 11:37 AM
They just lost me as a customer. I checked my check register and over the last 12 month have spent $625.00 at Dick's… No more.
December 18, 2012 at 1:29 PM
I'll gladly give up my firearms…
As soon as the police and military do the same.
Well, maybe not even then.
December 18, 2012 at 2:15 PM
What a stupid, pinhead, knee jerk reaction! Give them two weeks and they will have the firearms back up. Stand up for the 2nd amendment! For if the 1st Amendment ever get violated, we have an option against tyranny.
December 18, 2012 at 5:06 PM
WHAT A BUNCHA DICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 19, 2012 at 6:27 PM
They have taken their position on the 2nd Amendment, now show yours. Everyone who cares about the Constitution make it a point to not shop at Dick's and tell everyone you know to do the same.
December 20, 2012 at 2:35 PM
So Dicks is part of the American hateing party. Over 3 million babies are murdered every year and where was Dumb Dicks then? I will spend my money somewhere else .
December 20, 2012 at 2:46 PM
So……they have succumb to the left wing liberal rant about guns. I truly thought they wouldn't do something so out right dumb. What's next? The stupidity of our modern times is evident daily. I'll never spend another penny here again.
December 21, 2012 at 5:13 PM
Wow and you all agree with those idiots called the NRA too.
December 30, 2012 at 4:13 AM
Tried to send my rewards card to corporate headquarters, and it was returned. They aparrently don't want to view any correspondence from peons. Shove it Dick's, you were a poor gun store at best. Sell your upscale sneakers and yuppie exercise machines, I won't be back.