The free market can be greatly influenced by public opinion and large-scale political movements, such as the pro-gun control movement led by the courageous survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida. In many cases, the free market can be more easily influenced by political movements than politicians can be influenced by them. Case in point: the decision by Dick's Sporting Goods, a chain of sporting goods, hunting, and fishing stores, to stop selling assault weapons and high-capacity magazines at its stores and toughen the requirements to purchase firearms from all of its stores, including raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm from Dick's Sporting Goods to 21 years of age. Dick's Sporting Goods is under the same ownership as the Field and Stream store chain, so their new policies regarding gun sales apply to Field and Stream stores as well as Dick's Sporting Goods stores.
Additionally, Walmart, which sells firearms at many of their big-box department stores, is enacting a company-wide policy that, if a Walmart location sells firearms, it can only sell them to people who are at least 21 years of age.
Here is how The New York Times reported on Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods enacting tougher restrictions on gun sales:
While I wished that gun retailers took these steps decades ago, it's wonderful that major gun retailers are finally stepping in and enacting common-sense restrictions on gun sales. Also, the fact that major gun retailers have done more to enact common-sense gun control measures as their own corporate policy than politicians here in America have done to enact common-sense laws designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
Additionally, Walmart, which sells firearms at many of their big-box department stores, is enacting a company-wide policy that, if a Walmart location sells firearms, it can only sell them to people who are at least 21 years of age.
Here is how The New York Times reported on Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods enacting tougher restrictions on gun sales:
Two of the nation’s leading gun sellers, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, took steps on Wednesday to limit their sales of firearms, thrusting themselves into the middle of the polarizing national debate over gun control.The decisions by Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods to toughen their gun sales policies come after a number of companies ended discount programs for members of the National Rifle Association (NRA), the main political front group for the political interests of gun manufacturers.
Walmart, the biggest gun seller, announced late in the afternoon that it would not sell any gun to anyone under 21 years of age. It also said it would no longer sell items resembling assault-style rifles, including toys and air guns.
Early in the day, Dick’s said it was immediately ending sales of all assault-style rifles in its stores. The retailer also said that it would no longer sell high-capacity magazines and would also require any gun buyer to be at least 21, regardless of local laws.
While I wished that gun retailers took these steps decades ago, it's wonderful that major gun retailers are finally stepping in and enacting common-sense restrictions on gun sales. Also, the fact that major gun retailers have done more to enact common-sense gun control measures as their own corporate policy than politicians here in America have done to enact common-sense laws designed to keep guns out of the wrong hands.
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