By: Juliet Rodriguez-Perez
Two weeks after the controversial shooting at Stoneman Douglas; Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and 35 Field and Stream have taken steps to limit the selling of firearms.
Walmart, who is one of the nation’s top gun sellers, has publicly stated it will not sell guns to anyone under the age of 21. Additionally, the company has also decided to stop selling items that resemble assault rifles including toys and air guns. Following Walmart’s lead, Dick’s Sporting Goods and 35 Field and Stream have also raised their age limit to 21 and have taken all assault rifles off the shelves.
Both companies have stepped into the gun reform spotlight because of these changes and have admitted their actions are a direct result of a tragedy that should never have happened. Nothing can reverse what has occurred on February 14 but there can be steps taken to prevent another massacre from happening again.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is currently facing a lawsuit for age discrimination for not selling a .22 caliber rifle to 20-year-old, Tyler Watson. Since Dick’s Sporting Goods is a private company, that means that they can have their own rules regarding gun distribution and raise the age for purchasing a firearm.
The founder’s son, Edward Stack, said “We love these kids and their rallying cry, ‘Enough is enough.’ It got to us.” This sends a powerful message not only to stores that sell firearms but also to the students that have put this influential movement in motion. Stack also says that he does “not want his company to be a part of a mass shooting when asked about selling firearms to individuals under 21.”
The Watchdog 