Utah customers supportive of Dick’s Sporting Goods new gun sale guidelines
Feb 28, 2018, 1:01 PM | Updated: 9:52 pm
MIDVALE — Fans of Dick’s Sporting Goods’ new gun purchasing guidelines flocked to their store in Midvale Wednesday. The chain’s CEO said they’ve 
stopped selling assault-style rifles and high capacity magazines And, they said they will no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21. This comes after the high school shooting two weeks ago in Parkland, Florida.
Edward Stack, the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods announced the chain’s new gun guidelines Wednesday morning. He said one of their stores sold a shotgun to the Parkland shooter in November. While it wasn’t the gun or type of gun used, he said it could have been.
“Everybody talks about ‘thoughts and prayers going out to them (Parkland victims)’ and that’s great, that doesn’t really do anything, and we felt that we needed to take a stand and do this,” said Stack.
Jim Carlisle of Salt Lake City was one of the first customers in line at Dick’s Sporting Goods Wednesday morning in Midvale. Like many other customers KSL-TV spoke to, he drove out of his way to shop at the chain store.
“I dropped my daughter off at school. I had some errands to run. I wanted to go to a sporting goods store. I heard the news on NPR this morning and said it’s worth a drive to support a decision I believe in,” he said.
Jana Oman did the same thing.
“I had to buy some gloves, but I thought I’d support their decision,” Oman said.
The Cottonwood Heights mother of four believes their new gun sale requirements are smart.
“It makes perfect sense for it to be that age and for them to have such strict guidelines now,” she said.
While Stack is “imploring our elected officials to enact common sense gun reform,” he hopes his company’s initiative makes an impact in the meantime. Something shoppers KSL spoke to appreciate.
“If it’s not going to start in the government it’s got to start with businesses and families and people,” said Carlisle.
KSL did hear from folks skeptical of Dick’s Sporting Goods announcement on social media. Some who believe it’s a good idea, but won’t help fix the problem. Others who don’t believe it will help whatsoever.
