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Dick's Sporting Goods Halts Sales of Some Rifles

As private equity company tries to offload company that makes Bushmaster

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 18, 2012 9:49 AM CST

(Newser) – Dick's Sporting Goods has pulled all of its guns from its location closest to Newtown, Connecticut, and has pulled some models of semi-automatic rifles from all its stores, the company announced today. On the company's website today, the page for "modern sporting rifles" is blank, CNN reports. (It adds that authorities are reviewing whether Adam Lanza tried to buy a gun from a Dick's 12 miles from Newtown.) Walmart, meanwhile, is still selling rifles, though it pulled a photo and description of the Bushmaster AR-15—the type used at Newtown—from its website.

They're not the only companies trying to distance themselves from the assault rifle. Cerberus Capital Management announced it plans to sell off its Freedom Group family of gun makers, the New York Times reports. Cerberus bought Bushmaster back in 2006, and later launched the Freedom Group, a combo of it and other gun manufacturers, including Remington Arms. "It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level," the private equity firm explained in a press release. (Click for more on the Bushmaster's lethal history.)

In this March 27, 2006 file photo, a Bushmaster AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and ammunition is seen at the Seattle Police headquarters in Seattle.
In this March 27, 2006 file photo, a Bushmaster AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and ammunition is seen at the Seattle Police headquarters in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 39 comments
rich1120
Dec 19, 2012 9:53 AM CST
My respone: Guns don't kill, people do. I have had some guns in my Gun Case (cabinet) for over 50 years. I only use them for Hunting, I have to take that gun out of the gun case which requires my action. I have to LOAD a gun before I'm able to shoot it, that's take My actions, I have to aim that gun at something or someone that's takes my action. To fire that gun by squeeseing the trigger it's takes my action. Now please explain to me if it take all these actions for me to fire a shoot than how can anyone say a gun kills.. Now please explain to me if my actions are required to load, aim and shoot that gun than how can it kill without some type action by someone. Only people that never use or own a gun will say its the gun fault. Than all the Knives, Spears, Cars, Trucks Boats, SUV's and ATV'S, Air Planes and the list go's on. They also need to be control as they kill, in some cases more than Guns and they can be and has been used to kill others. What I do approve of is make some type of control on the size of clip or magizine that hols only 3 to 5 bullets,  as there no reason to have a clip that hold 10, 15, 20 50 or a 100 rounds. But of course no matter how many laws are in place on firearm controls the crimenals will be the able get what he/she want, all they have to do is pay the price. The law abidding citizen will folow the law but not the criminals. We need toughest prison sentences when law are brokrn by the criminal, not the resort they are sent to. Thank You
793tango
Dec 18, 2012 4:59 PM CST
One thing about corporate America; you can count on them to duck controversy whenever possible. Bad for business. seems they've finally had enough of this controversy and will dump it as fast as they can.
ghinthorn
Dec 18, 2012 1:50 PM CST
So glad I bought my high capacity AR & AK magazines already.  Reatilers and Congress are about to pull some stupid, cowardly,  knee-jerk B.S., unfortunately.
 

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