Dick's Sporting Goods to end sale of assault rifles


Dick's Sporting Goods announced Wednesday that it will permanently end sales of assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, as well as refuse to sell any firearms to people under the age of 21, regardless of federal or local laws, The New York Times reports.
Chief executive Edward Stack said the changes were a direct response to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead: "If the kids in Parkland are being brave enough to stand up and do this, we can be brave enough to stand up with them," Stack said.
The 19-year-old suspected gunman had legally purchased a firearm from Dick's, although not the AR-15 used in the attack. "We said, 'We don't want to be a part of this any longer,'" Stack added. He said he hopes the retailer's actions will spur politicians to address "common sense gun reform."
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Dick's will still sell sport and hunting firearms, citing a strong commitment to the Second Amendment. Watch Stack discuss his decision on Good Morning America below. Jeva Lange
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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