Walmart, Dick’s Suspend Sale of Certain Semi-Automatic Rifles — What Do You Think?
In wake of Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, Dick's also has removed all guns from the store closest to Newtown, Conn.
In the wake of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, two major retailers have suspended sales of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles from their stores.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world, has suspended sales of some semi-automatic rifles from all stores.
The company has also removed all guns from its store located closest to Newtown, CT.
In a statement, the store said the move was made out of respect to the victims and families of Newtown. Friday’s shooting left 20 children, all between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adults dead.
“We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community,” a statement on the Dick’s website said.
CNN reports authorities are working to determine if Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old shooter who killed himself inside the elementary school once the shooting spree was over, tried to buy a gun at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Danbury, which is about 12 miles away from Newtown.
“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 to CNN. "Based on our records, we can confirm that no firearms were sold to the suspect identified in this case."
It is unknown how long the ban on the semi-automatic rifles, also known as modern sporting rifles, will last, CNN reports.
The Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine M4A3 Rifle also no longer will be sold from Walmart's online store.
A military-style assault rifle, the Bushmaster is in the same family of guns as the one Lanza reportedly used in the massacre, the Huffington Post reports.
Locally, Dick’s Sporting Goods has a store at SouthPark Mall. Walmart is at 8585 Pearl Road.
We want to know what you think? Do you agree with Dick’s decision to suspend sales of semi-automatic rifles? What about removing the guns from the store near Newtown?
Should Dick’s make the ban a permanent decision?
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below or take our Patch Poll.
In This article
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Dick's Sporting Goods
17071 Southpark Ctr, Strongsville, OH -
SouthPark Mall
500 Southpark Ctr, Strongsville, OH -
WalMart
8585 Pearl Rd, Strongsville, OH
Richard
1:06 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
This violent act was planned well in advance. No ban on any gun would have stopped it. These types of violent people will find a way to be violent.
deanna
4:23 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
sorry i just dont see a need for this type of weapon my son and others hunt all the time that is ok but i dont understand why anyone would want the assault weapons
Richard
5:04 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Without taking a side in this particular comment, I have to say the question is worded very poorly. All semi-automatic rifles are NOT assault weapons. If you want to talk about banning ASSAULT WEAPONS, then say ASSAULT WEAPONS. But, again, all semi-automatic rifles are NOT assault weapons. And then they'll take 'rifle' out of the ban and want to ban ALL SEMI-AUTOMATIC weapons. Now see where this goes? Soon enough, they'll be banning weapons altogether when the weapon is NOT the problem!!