Fear & Loading: Dick’s Stockholders Pay for Its Anti-2A Activism

by
posted on August 30, 2018
dicks.jpg

Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods dropped by as much as 10 percent this week, according to Reuters, after the company reported a same-sales-stores drop of 1.9 percent, nearly three times the firm’s prediction of 0.62 percent.  The news service explained earlier this year, “Dick’s was one of the first retailers to stop selling assault rifles and high-capacity magazines as well as bar the sale of guns to people under age 21…” Officials anticipated a slight decrease in hunting gear purchases after the controversial move, but the much-anticipated increase in customer support was so short lived that it failed to improve the 700-store chain’s quarterly report.

Reuters failed to mention the company’s subsequent financial arrangement with gun-control lobbyists, a fact that led Springfield Armory, Hi-Point Firearms, Inland, Mossberg, Hogue and other firearm firms to summarily sever business relationships with the big-box chain. Springfield Armory’s announcement explained, “It is clear where Dick’s Sporting Goods and its subsidiary, Field & Stream, stand on the Second Amendment, and we want to be clear about our message in response. Their position runs counter to what we stand for as a company. At Springfield Armory, we believe in the right and principles fought for and secured by American patriots and our founding forefathers, without question. We will not accept Dick’s Sporting Goods’ continued attempts to deny Second Amendment freedoms to our fellow Americans.” 

Meanwhile Sportsman’s Warehouse, which issued a statement in April that it would not be changing its firearms inventory or sales policy, announced on Aug. 23 that during its second financial quarter of 2018, “Net sales increased by 6.2% to $203.3 million from $191.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. Same store sales increased by 0.2% from the comparable prior year period.”

CEO, President and Chairman Jon Baker explained during the report’s conference call [PDF], “Drilling down further on the composition of comparable sales for the second quarter. Firearm units across the company were up 8.3%, better than the adjusted NICS decline of 7.2% for the quarter in the states in which we serve. Our continued outperformance of the industry and market share gains are attributed to our continued investments in assortment expansion, online capabilities and expertise for varying subcategories and all user types as we continue to capitalize on market share opportunities.”

Latest

firearm instruction
firearm instruction

Rifleman Report: Our Diverse Firearm Community

In this issue, we report on two of the latest firearm designs—and highlight one now long forgotten—and we present a heartwarming story involving family-centric defensive firearm training.

Product Preview: THAW Rechargeable Hand Warmers

THAW hand warmers power up in only seconds and can fit easily within most pants or jacket pockets to help make your outdoor winter treks considerably more comfortable while keeping your electronic devices charged.

Springfield Echelon: The Leading Edge Of Self-Defense

A new full-size pistol from a trusted brand brings the latest thinking to bear on the striker-fired, polymer-frame semi-automatic format—whether for duty or everyday carry.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 2, 2023

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

FBI Underreports Armed Citizen Actions, Study Says

A detailed study on lives saved by the actions of armed, law-abiding citizens, issued on Aug. 31 by the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), found the number reported annually by the FBI reflects a mere fraction of the real figure.

Product Preview: Cold Steel Heavy Duty Sword Cane

A flat-black exterior finish on its heat-treated aluminum shaft and a black, molded-nylon handle give Cold Steel’s Heavy Duty Sword Cane a discreet appearance.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.