In the wake of another deadly mass shooting, some of the nation’s largest private companies took significant steps this week to reform their gun marketing policies, after years of congressional inaction.
Walmart – the nation’s top retailer – announced Wednesday that it is raising the age requirement to 21 for purchases of firearms and ammunition. The retail behemoth will also be removing items from their website that resemble assault-style rifles, such as airsoft guns and toys.
Over 140 million Americans shop at Walmart every week, according to the store.
Dick’s Sporting Goods – the country’s largest sporting goods chain – is also taking action. Wednesday, the company announced a string of changes to their gun sale policy. In addition to also changing its age limit to 21 for firearm sales, they revealed that they will no longer sell assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines.
In a shocking move, Dick’s went even further, imploring Congress to take action and pass gun reform laws that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The sporting goods company raised the minimum age for purchasing weapons from 18 to 21, and require universal background checks that include mental health assessments, among other reforms.
“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,” said Dick’s CEO Edward Stack 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.”
At the same time, we implore our elected officials to enact common sense gun reform and pass the following regulations: https://t.co/J4OcB6XJnu pic.twitter.com/VUuFKkyk6c
— DICK'S Sporting Goods (@DICKS) February 28, 2018
The companies’ unprecedented moves come less than two weeks after the Valentine’s Day mass shooting and killing of 17 students and teachers in Parkland, Fla. Since then, the White House and Republican congressional leaders have struggled to agree on a federal response, creating a vacuum that some of the biggest U.S. retailers have chosen to fill.
One of the country’s most influential gun control advocacy groups, Moms Demand Action, which was founded by a former stay-at-home mother, Shannon Watts, in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, lauded the move by Dick’s.
“Mothers make the majority of spending decisions for their families, and we want to shop with businesses that care about the safety of our families – making this a smart business move, too,” Watts said in a statement. “Dick’s Sporting Goods should be applauded for this decision and its willingness to proactively change its policies on this issue.”
Following the lead of other large retailers, Kroger – the nation’s second largest retailer – announced Thursday morning that it will be raising the minimum age to 21 for gun and ammunition buys at its Fred Meyer locations, which consists of more than 130 stores.
The moves were met with enthusiasm by Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, but he implored legislators to do more.
“This is another positive step forward. It’s time for Congress to do its part and act,” he tweeted after the Walmart announcement Wednesday.
Republican and Democratic members of Congress met with President Donald Trump Wednesday to discuss possible policy solutions to the gun violence epidemic.
During an hour-long televised meeting, the president seemed to be open to adopting significant gun reforms. He advocated increasing the minimum age for rifle purchases to 21, and an adoption of stronger background checks.
The president also called on Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.,, and Pat Toomey, R.-Pa., to use their proposed legislation in the wake of Sandy Hook — which would have expanded background checks on internet and gun show sales — to be the foundation of a new congressional bill to stem gun violence.
When discussing mental health, the president seemed to also advocate taking away guns from some individuals who display signs of mental illness before a court determines that course of action.
“A lot of times by the time you go to court, it takes so long to go to court to get the due process procedures, I like taking the guns early,” said Trump.
The president’s stance was met with approval by some Democrats but got a cool reception from Republican congressional leaders and other prominent conservatives who complained the president listened to the wrong people before making his recommendations.
“Strong leaders don’t automatically agree with the last thing that was said to them. We have the Second Amendment and due process of law for a reason,” said Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska in a statement. “We’re not ditching any constitutional protections simply because the last person the President talked to today doesn’t like them.”
National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch also opposed Trump’s ideas.
“Due process must be respected,” she said in an appearance on Fox News Wednesday. “It is a foundational principle of this country.”
In the wake of all these developments, Congress is beginning to act. Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida unveiled a new gun control proposal on Thursday.
Rubio’s proposal includes investigating and prosecuting people who attempt to buy a gun and are prohibited from doing so, and strengthening background checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a federal database.