Dick’s Sporting Goods doubles down on removing guns from stores

The company lifted assault-style weapons from its shelves after the Parkland school shooting. Now it is removing all firearms from 125 stores, saying other items deliver better profits.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a new message about removing firearms from its stores: It’s good for business.

The company first made a splash when it announced it would no longer sell assault-style weapons and would sell only hunting guns—to consumers age 21 and older—in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Gun rights advocates criticized the chain, and many swore to buy their sports gear and apparel elsewhere.

Now Dick’s is expanding the removal of guns from stores with a new message for investors and other stakeholders: The goods that replace guns in stores are better for the bottom line.

USA Today reported:

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced Tuesday it will remove firearms from 125 of its stores, according to news reports. The move follows the company’s ban on assault-style weapons last year in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.