(Trying again as first attempt thread was locked for using improper wording. Appreciate the mods for pointing that out and hopefully this version passes muster.)
Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the leading retailers in the US, is immediately ending sales of all assault-style rifles in its stores. Dick’s will also no longer sell high-capacity magazines nor sell any gun to anyone under 21 years of age, regardless of local laws.
“When we saw what happened in Parkland, we were so disturbed and upset,” Mr. Stack said in an interview Tuesday evening. “We love these kids and their rallying cry, ‘enough is enough.’ It got to us.”
He added, “We’re going to take a stand and step up and tell people our view and, hopefully, bring people along into the conversation.” [/end quotation]
It’s pretty much a given that the NRA officially or un-officially will go for a member boycott of Dick’s. There’s roughly 5 million NRA members. On the other hand, there are a lot more consumers than that in the US. YMMV, but I personally will make a show of solidarity and take my family shopping at Dick’s for the first time ever this weekend. Shopping can off-set the loss in revenue by Dick’s not selling these weapons, and off-set impacts of any boycotts.
If the NRA boycotts Dick’s, revenues will rise simply for the widespread knowledge of what they did (referring to Dick’s moral refusal to sell assault rifles). Then again, that depends on whether the NRA is thinking long-term or short-term, and my money is they will react in a way that has short-term benefit to them (boycott Dick’s) and unwittingly serve to do just the opposite of hurting the company, in the long-term (by doing said boycotting).
Apparently part of Dick’s response, refusing to sell any firearm to those under age 21 regardless of local law, may have a legal problem in some states. New Jersey law (pdf link), for example, provides protection against age discrimination in business transactions for persons age 18+.
As a result the NRA will find a member age 18 to 20 in New Jersey and sue in his name if Dick’s is unwilling to sell to him based upon his age. They’ll also send in an older member to buy the same firearm. Assuming the former transaction is refused but the sale to the older person goes through then its lawsuit time.
Iggy, that is interesting. My WAG is that Dick’s and Walmart will simply and quietly acquiesce in a case such as New Jersey. I don’t know Ed Stack from Adam, but he may be willing to take this to the Supremes.
Interestingly enough, Wal-Mart also joined in the 21 age restriction.
Even more interesting is that Trump also appeared to buck the NRA and seemed to embrace gun control. Will see if Trump as a spine or is a boot licker.
This development is good news for dicks all around the country.
In all seriousness, would a lawsuit have any grounds? Doesn’t a private business reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, as long as they are not a protected class? If a drunk goes into a bar, the bartender can refuse to pour him a drink, even if he is entitled to it.
I’ve never heard of the NRA calling for a boycott, either officially or unofficially (whatever that means). I’d be interested if anyone has any cites for such a thing.
NRA has a rating system for politicians. NRA are really good, and they basically don’t have to actually give money to candidates but wield their power by rating candidates, and then NRA members reference that when deciding how they want to vote.
Here’s a link to a purportedly NRA boycott list. I can’t be bothered to spend more than 2 minutes googling for you and can’t verify that quickly if this is an “official” NRA list or not.
Here’s onefrom the Sandy Hook era calling for a boycott of Dick’s.
Whether the NRA will call for an outright boycott or just imply that “some people say” nudge nudge wink wink, I have no idea. That said, the NRA wields power far beyond it’s 5 M members because they tend to vote lock step and following the NRA scorecards.
If you go to the NRA website, you can find urgent action required to make voices heard to protect the second amendment such as this one. A call to action or a boycott by other terminology. YMMV.
By the way, you can just go the NRA website, find the search and type in “boycott”. You get hits from the NRA website such as this one: NRA Launches National Boycott Against ConocoPhillips. Again, I highlight that this is from the NRA website.
I did not copy the whole page from that link, but right after the portion I quoted there is a paragraph explaining that there is an exception where the refusal to do business is a requirement of law. So NJ merchants not only can, they must, refuse alcohol sales to 18-20 year olds.
So if New Jersey were to pass a law to raise the purchase age for firearms to 21 then Dick’s could, of course, refuse sales to underage persons. But just setting that as company policy is problematic.
A bartender refusing to sell to an intoxicated person is not discriminating based upon a protected class. And, depending upon state law and/or regulations such refusal might be required of the bartender.
Merchants can generally refuse service so long as it is not on the basis of membership in a protected class. In New Jersey it is unlawful discrimination to sell a legal product to a 30 year old but refuse to sell the same product to a 20 year old based upon the age of the younger person. It’s black letter law. No reason to think a lawsuit would not be successful.
I have never been a big fan of Dick’s or any of the other box-stores and this really doesn’t change my opinion of them/that. Something cheap enough in the sizes I need I may still go there but for anything else give me a good little local shop where the person at the counter actually knows what they are talking about. This goes for things like guns, shoes and other things as well.
I’ve wondered what percentage of Dicks or Walmart’s gun customers are actually under 21 in the first place. There are lot’s of other places where people under 21 can purchase rifles if they want really want them. Lots of younger people use 22’s for hunting and target practice because it’s cheap. What about ammo? Are they going to stop selling 22 caliber rounds to people under 21? What about high powered rounds?
Also, what’s to stop someone older buying it for them and just gifting it to them. That’s how I got my first rifle from my dad.
