Hudson Valley Gun Retailer Stops Selling Assault-Style Rifles

One gun seller in the Hudson Valley will no longer offer assault style rifles and will only allow customers over 21 to purchase firearms.

There has been lots of debate over the past few weeks on how to end the epidemic of mass shootings in our country. Some believe that background checks and mental health screenings are necessary, others point to the easy availability of high powered guns. Polls show that most Americans believe a combination of changes need to be made in order to keep our kids and families safe.

While politicians continue to argue back and forth over what needs to be done, one local gun retailer has decided not to wait to make some changes. Dick's Sporting Goods announced on Good Morning America that they would be halting the sale of high powered, assault-like weapons. Other voluntary restrictions on the sale of guns were laid out in a letter from Ed Stack, the CEO of Dick's Sporting Goods:

We will no longer sell assault-style rifles, also referred to as modern sporting rifles. We had already removed them from all DICK’S stores after the Sandy Hook massacre, but we will now remove them from sale at all 35 Field & Stream stores.

We will no longer sell firearms to anyone under 21 years of age.We will no longer sell high capacity magazines.We never have and never will sell bump stocks that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire more rapidly.

Stack also urged lawmakers to pass common sense gun reform including the banning of assault-styled rifles, increasing the age to purchase firearms to 21, making high capacity magazines and bump stocks illegal and working to improve background checks and mental health screening.

Dick's Sporting Goods has locations in Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Middletown and Danbury.