Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods raise minimum age to buy a gun to 21, drawing mixed reviews in WI
Edward Stack
MILWAUKEE -- Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart will no longer sell guns to anyone under the age of 21 after the Valentine's Day school shooting in Florida, the companies announced Wednesday.
Wisconsin gun control advocates said they hoped the moves will be the start of a wave of corporate and political decisions. One gun salesman said the changes were "sad" and wouldn't solve a problem.
In an open letter published on its corporate website, Dick's is also calling on lawmakers to ban some firearms, raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21, and require universal background checks -- among other changes.
Dick's Sporting Goods
"When you look at those kids and their parents and the grief that everyone is going through, and we don't want to be a part of this story any longer," said Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack.
Stack said he expects backlash from customers because his company is a major hunting retailer. But he said executives thought it was important to take a stand.
Jeri Bonavia, executive director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, said Dick's Sporting Goods was showing leadership at a time many politicians are not.
She noted that other companies -- including airlines and car rental companies -- have recently cut ties with the National Rifle Association.
Jeri Bonavia
"I think it's a really positive move," Bonavia said. "I think it creates some space. I think it shows you can go up against the NRA, the corporate lobby of the NRA."
Dick's Sporting Goods said it was pulling AR-15s and other rifles out of its 35 Field and Stream stores, none of which are located in Wisconsin. The company had previously decided not to sell the rifles in its mainline Dick's stores.
Josh Vogel, a firearms instructor at Wisconsin Tactical in Waukesha, said the move wouldn't be effective.
"They're kind of catering toward the fear of what these things are, and people don't know what they are so they're afraid of them," said Vogel.
Josh Vogel
Vogel said Dick's refusing to sell guns to anyone under 21 will alienate younger customers.
"It's actually kind of sad to me because we really do like getting kids into shooting sports," said Vogel.
Bonavia argued that younger people have the highest risks of gun violence. The Florida shooter was 19.
"This doesn't, in any way, hurt Second Amendment rights," Bonavia said.
Separately, Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday broke with fellow Wisconsin Republicans and said he did not support arming teachers in response to school shootings. GOP U.S. Senate hopefuls Kevin Nicholson and Leah Vukmir and Attorney General Brad Schimel have all expressed an openness to the idea.
Walker said there were ongoing discussions about passing a school safety package this year in the Legislature. He did not provide details.
Last week, the Republican-controlled state Assembly approved grants to pay for armed guards at schools. The bill sits in the state Senate.