Dick's will stop selling assault rifles in wake of Florida school shooting - and some customers are already threatening to boycott
- Dick's Sporting Goods changed its policies to stop selling assault-style firearms and no longer selling guns to shoppers under the age of 21.
- The retailer is already seeing backlash and boycott threats from some customers.
- Customers on the left and right have already threatened to boycott companies with ties to the NRA and brands that cut ties with the guns-rights group.
Dick's Sporting Goods will no longer sell assault-style weapons and stop selling guns to people under the age of 21, the company's CEO Ed Stack announced Wednesday morning.
The company, which is one of the largest sports retailers in the US, is already facing backlash for its new policies.
While many comments on Dick's letter to customers, posted on the retailer's Facebook page, applauded the decision, others criticized the chain.
"You just lost my business," one commenter wrote.
"See ya," wrote another. "Who wants my gift card."
"Just lost my money," wrote a third.
The Parkland, Florida shooting that killed 17 people at a high school has sparked a national debate on gun control.
Delta, United Airlines, Hertz, and MetLife are among more than a dozen companies that have cut ties with the National Rifle Association after gun-control activists encouraged people to boycott brands that did business with the guns-rights group.
In response to companies cutting ties, supporters of the NRA have sprung into action with boycotts of their own.
Now, Dick's is the center of similar backlash - something that the company expected.
"The whole hunting business is an important part of our business, and we know there is going to be backlash on this," Stack told The New York Times. "But we're willing to accept that."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their loved ones. But thoughts and prayers are not enough," Dick's wrote in a letter to customers. "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."