Hi, I Run Dick’s Sporting Goods, And I’ve Consigned My Corporation To Death With My Idiotic Position On Guns
BY Herschel Smith
6 years ago
Edward W. Stack is chief executive of Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Throughout history, the United States has been a beacon of hope for the world — especially for people who appreciate and respect that we are a country founded on laws that have been enacted to guard our freedom and keep us safe.
As a gun owner, I support the Second Amendment and understand why, for many, the right to bear arms is as American as baseball and apple pie. But I also agree with what Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in his majority opinion in 2008’s landmark Heller case: “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited.” It is “not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”
It is clear we have a problem with the gun laws in this country. They are not squarely focused on keeping all of us safe — especially our children.
There continue to be mass shootings — at our schools, churches and entertainment venues. Following each of these senseless, tragic events there’s a great deal of idle, fruitless talk in the halls of Congress, and then the conversation quickly comes to an end.
It’s our great hope and belief that this time will be different. It has to be different.
Maybe it’s because the survivors of the Parkland, Fla., massacre — and the thousands of students who made their feelings known for 17 minutes last week — are standing up and shouting “enough is enough” and “never again.” They are demanding that our elected officials come together to find solutions. These brave young men and women are not going away.
In the weeks since we at Dick’s Sporting Goods announced plans to stop selling assault-style rifles, plans to only sell firearms to those over 21 and other new policies, we have been striving to keep this conversation going. We have met with a number of lawmakers and have talked with many of our peers in the retail industry. We have spoken with strong-willed advocacy groups and visited with families in Parkland.
It is becoming increasingly apparent through our conversations that there continues to be deep skepticism that anything of substance will be done.
Some members of Congress are committed to change, but not enough are willing to set aside partisanship to find a solution. I continue to call on lawmakers in both parties to talk with each other with the expressed intent to act.
What’s also surprising is how many citizens and leaders in our government are not aware of the loopholes and inconsistences in our firearms laws.
Here are some to think about:
●You can’t buy a handgun until you’re 21, but you can buy an assault-style rifle at 18.
●You can buy a gun on the Internet from someone in your state without a background check, but a background check is required to buy a gun on the Internet from someone in a different state.
●Few states provide a list of those in their state who are banned from buying a gun to other states.
●A person deemed too dangerous to fly on a commercial plane is nonetheless legally permitted to purchase a gun.
We understand this is a complex issue and Congress has a number of constituencies with broad agendas. But we hope Congress will take notice of not only what students are saying but also what the private sector is telling it. Two of the three largest firearms retailers in the country have publicly said we are implementing our own policies for the sale of firearms.
This issue transcends our company’s bottom line. We suspected that speaking out would have a negative impact on our business. But this was about our values and standing up for what we think is right.
After we announced our new firearms policy, we were gratified that Walmart, Kroger, L.L. Bean and REI showed courage and leadership by announcing their own new policies. We hope others in the private and public sectors join us in this effort.
A group of us in corporate America have taken a stand, made hard choices and enacted reforms on our own because we firmly believe it’s the right thing to do for our kids and for our country.
The kids in Florida and across the nation have taken a stand and been brave enough to make their voices heard.
The majority of Americans are demanding that members of Congress take a stand and be brave enough to do their jobs.
Well Edward, you’ve thrown a number of red herrings around in your arguments. For one thing, we and you know that the whole internet purchasing issue is ridiculous, since it’s just another means of communicating other than calling them on your cell phone, meeting someone in a parking lot, meeting them at a gun show, work, home or on the side of the road, and selling them one of your guns. In common parlance, it’s called a “person to person transfer.” It’s legal as it should be, but you already know that. I’m just pointing out that we aren’t fooled by your corporate communications department.
What you’re really telling us is that you oppose the right and liberty of person to person transfers, or in other words, you favor universal background checks, which not only runs contrary to the second amendment, but wouldn’t have done anything about the event you claim to be the catalyst for your positions.
Next up, the issue of the no-fly list galls me because what you’re really saying is that you favor leaving men and women in the country who are dangerous enough to warrant that kind of scrutiny, but opposed to deportation. In other words, you’re just using them as an excuse for more gun control like the rest of the progressives. You don’t want the country to be safer by deporting them – you’re just setting them up as a prop for more statist control over common, ordinary, peaceable men and women.
And you also know all about the wonderful lives saved as a result of having those AR-15s available to them. Since you know all about this, what you’re really saying by your self-imposed ban of AR-15 sales is that you don’t want anyone to have what they might consider to be the best weapon available for defense of home and hearth. You’re a cruel elitist and you don’t really care about others.
I could go on, but I’m just writing these things down to show you how badly your corporate communications department sucks and how badly they botched this commentary. They really didn’t do a good job on this one, but of course, they are writing talking points rather than really knowing what they’re talking about.
So here’s the scoop for me and Dick’s Sporting Goods. I had begun to visit less frequently, and most of the time if I was there with a family member I walked over to the firearms section only to notice that no one was manning the counter (if anyone wanted to buy anything an employee had to be paged), the ammunition was fairly run of the mill and not really all that cheap, you had a few shotguns, a few bolt action rifles and not much else, your gun cleaning supplies pretty much sucked, and it was in general a depressing place to be. Everyone else there seemed to shake their head and walk away too.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is like the little child who doesn’t know what he wants to be when he grows up. You don’t know what you want, except to make some money. But you’ve let your progressive viewpoints get in the way of that, Edward.
So this is all going to be decided for you by the consumers. You’re basically going to become nothing but a store for women’s clothing and pansy-ass golf gear. But here’s the thing: women can find their clothing anywhere, and you won’t survive as a golf shop.
The only product I have bought recently at Dicks, some outdoor shoes, I will now buy at Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s. Yes, I’ll avoid REI as much as I can as well. Going to Bass Pro Shop or Cabela’s will be just a little extra drive for me, but it’ll be worth it to watch Dick’s spin down the drain.
Congratulations. You just consigned your company to doom.
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On March 23, 2018 at 6:41 am, Talktome said:
When Dicks pulled their crap after Newton, I stopped shopping there, as I think many did. I did like their sporting goods selection, but always found their firearms to be just average and a bit overpriced. Plenty of alternatives to go to buy a pair of nikes or baseball glove.
On March 23, 2018 at 7:46 am, June J said:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/03/dicks-sporting-goods-sales-sink-after-new-gun-policy/
“Dick’s Sporting Goods has suffered a surprisingly steep downturn in sales since promising to sell fewer guns, but the problem isn’t the gun sales, Fortune says.“
On March 23, 2018 at 9:09 am, Heywood said:
@talktome. Me too. Haven’t been in a storr dince their last stunt. They will be out of business before the end of Trumps term.
On March 23, 2018 at 9:31 am, Fred said:
“…And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, and said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations…And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
But the people didn’t give a shit. They wanted their gun control implemented by a king. Everybody keeps asking to be kept safe. You’ll get your wish, you’ll get your king to keep you safe at gunpoint, for your own good, or else, and the LORD will not hear you.
60 million dead babies and counting…tick tock…
On March 23, 2018 at 9:37 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
Dick’s Sporting Goods became a non-destination for me years ago, and this latest bit of idiocy by CEO Edward W. Stack only confirms that my initial hunch was the correct one. It will be a cold day in a certain very hot place before I shop there again.
Vote with your wallets, folks – it is the only language these statist control freaks understand!
On March 23, 2018 at 10:54 am, Jack Crabb said:
Here’s your 2 choices, Ed StackOfShit:
FOAD
or
EABODADIAF
On March 23, 2018 at 11:33 am, Bill Robbins said:
Let’s not forget that Dick’s is part of the brick-and-mortal retail industry, especially in big-box stores selling sporting goods, that has been declining or going out of business for the past decade. Dick’s is headed to the same place: oblivion. The gun decision is just hastening the Dick’s decline, and also is being used in a bid to get the “sympathy” vote from investors. It won’t work. Investors want to make money and will not stick around to show “support” for Dick’s.
Speaking of corporations virtue signaling, it’s time to shred your Citi credit cards and stop using them at places such as Costco.
On March 23, 2018 at 11:42 am, Herschel Smith said:
@Bill,
Thanks. I don’t have a Citi card or a Costco membership. I do have a Sam’s membership, and while in the Sam’s in Gastonia a few days ago saw someone openly carrying.
Down South we don’t like people Dicking around (pardon the pun) with our rights. For the record, I don’t consider Florida “The South.”
On March 23, 2018 at 11:42 am, Torcer said:
Could someone please explain to me how a business such as Citibank can discriminate against a Constitutionally protected product while other can be FORCED to associate with that which they disagree?
https://bearingarms.com/tom-k/2018/03/23/citibank-guns-sales-lies-tell/
On March 23, 2018 at 11:50 am, Henry b said:
Glad to live here in the Queen City, plenty of options nearby, Bass Pro in Concord and Cabelas near Rock Vegas, gonna hit that one later today just because.
Not to mention the multitude of small businesses that sell firearms and ammo scattered throughout the area, or one can visit any of the many SC PSA locations too.
Yup, i vote my values, conscience and wallet these days….
ps…Have yet to hit Foothills Range, but am looking forward to it…..
On March 23, 2018 at 11:52 am, Fred said:
Torcer,
“As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.”
Or Merriam-Webster.com: tyrant
1 a : an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution
On March 23, 2018 at 12:06 pm, Torcer said:
It also runs contrary to the 4th amendment, the right to privacy and the rest of the Constitution for that matter. It’s always fun to ask a Leftist…
[Please don’t complement the enemies of Liberty on the Left with the false label of ‘Liberal’]…
If they can cite the legal justification for Intergalactic Background Checks… They won’t have an answer..
On March 23, 2018 at 1:07 pm, ambiguousfrog said:
The lines are being drawn obviously. For what it’s worth.
I looked on the back of all my cards and found I only have a Home Depot card issued by Citibank. I sent them a message requesting procedures to close my account based on Citibank’s firearm policy. Here’s the response at 12:59 A.M. (from India I suppose):
“We received your recent inquiry regarding the account.
Citibank N.A. has announced a new U.S. Commercial Firearms Policy,
effective immediately, that promotes the adoption of current best
practices regarding the sale of firearms. We believe that we must do our
part to help keep our schools and communities safe. Citibank is not
prohibiting consumers’ ability to purchase a firearm, you may legally
purchase a firearm with a Citi credit or debit card.
For further information regarding the policy kindly contact our customer
service representatives at Voice: 1-800-677-0232, TDD/TTY:
1-888-944-2227.
We are sorry to hear that you are thinking about closing your account.
However, to accomplish this, please do so by responding to this message
stating – Authorization to Close My Account.
Once you have replied the account will be closed and we will send you a
confirmation.
We would like to continue our relationship with you.”
I guess Citibank forgot about the schools and communities when they helped blow up the economy years back where people lost jobs and homes. Not to mention the bailout – “Too Big To Fail”. And you always know you’re going to need extra lube when someone prefaces an argument as if they’re originating from your side ideologically, but….
Where the CEO states he’s an avid outdoorsman. That makes what they’re about to do more palatable in their mind. They just don’t get it.
On March 23, 2018 at 1:27 pm, Chris Kuhne said:
I am rethinking my relationship with Bass Pro Shops due to their business relationship with BOA. I have just emailed them asking for their position/clarification as to their business relationship with BOA and 2nd Amendment positions due to the likelihood of them following Citibank’s footsteps. I had opened a Bass Pro account until I found it was with BOA and I promptly cancelled it the next day. I will not do business with BOA, I won’t even use their ATM’s due to their treatment of certain firearms businesses of a few years ago, namely McMillan. I’ll let you know what they respond back
On March 23, 2018 at 1:31 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@Chris,
Thanks. Please do that.
On March 23, 2018 at 2:32 pm, Fred said:
“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant [literal = slave] to the lender.”
On March 25, 2018 at 12:42 pm, moe mensale said:
“Could someone please explain to me how a business such as Citibank can discriminate against a Constitutionally protected product while other can be FORCED to associate with that which they disagree?”
@Torcer,
Consider Citibank as Mt Everest and a local Christian baker (for example) as a small ant mound.
Sometimes size does matter.
On March 26, 2018 at 3:04 pm, Thomas Crowley said:
I just do know how many baseball or softball gloves a person needs or golf sh_ _ or anything else like that. I bought all ever needed at one time. Was in my late 30’s so I didn’t need much else for the remander of my life. I’ve never been one to buy I could see of the latest golf gear to make myself a better player, I figured time at the range would do that.
On March 27, 2018 at 2:36 pm, Doug said:
In the year 1369 Edward III issued the following order:-
“Cause public proclamation to be made, that everyone strong in body at leisure time on holidays use in his recreation the bow and arrow and learn and exercise the art of shooting – forbidding all and singular on our behalf that they do not after any manner apply themselves to the throwing of stones, wood, iron, handball, football, banydyball, cambuck, or cock fighting; nor to any other such like vain plays [for example: golf] which have no profit in them, under pain of imprisonment.”
EDWARD Rex
Westminister
12 day of June
Year of our Lord 1369
Me thinks that too many have been escaping imprisonment for far too long!