Gwinnett Dick's Sporting Goods End Sale Of Assault-Style Weapons

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Dick's Sporting Goods, the nation's largest sporting goods retailer, is halting sales of selling assault-style weapons like the one used in the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting. The sporting goods giant has three stores in Gwinnett County.

Dick's also no long will sell firearms to anyone under the age of 21 and is stopping the sale of high capacity magazines, the company said on Wednesday.

"We support and respect the Second Amendment, and we recognize and appreciate that the vast majority of gun owners in this country are responsible, law-abiding citizens," Edward Stack, Dick's chairman and CEO said in a statement. "But 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."

This isn't the first time Dick's has made changes in response to a school massacre. Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in 2012, Dick's removed assault-style rifles from its main retail stores. But a few months later, the company began carrying the firearms at its outdoor and hunting Field & Stream stores.
Stack acknowledged that Dick's in November legally sold a rifle to accused Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz.
"It was not the gun, nor type of gun, he used in the shooting," he said. "But it could have been."

Here are the Gwinnett-area Dick's locations:

• Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Dr, Buford
• North Logan Commons, 4040 Atlanta Hwy, Loganville
• 6050 Peachtree Pkwy #450, Norcross
• Cumming Town Center, 2145 Market Pl Blvd, Cumming

A 15-year-old was arrested Feb. 15 after he brought a hand gun to Lanier High School in Gwinnett County, according to a police arrest report.

The student was arrested after school administrators were tipped off he had a weapon on campus, Principal Christopher Martin said in a statement.

"We moved quickly to investigate and during our search we did find that a student had a gun in his possession. In addition to criminal charges for having a weapon on campus, the student also will face disciplinary action," said Martin.

"News of a weapon on campus is unsettling for us all, especially in light of the tragic events from yesterday in Florida," he said.

The arrest happened only a day after 17 people were killed at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., by alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz, 19.

Patch Editor Eric Heyl contributed to this story.
Photo via Scott Olson/ Getty Image