Crime & Safety

Walmart, Dick's Pull Some Firearms After Newtown Shooting

The Newtown school shooting has spurred some retailers to suspend gun sales.

Christmas shopping for the outdoorsman may be a little different this year.

Walmart pulled from its shelves a Bushmaster rifle that's in the same group of guns as the one reportedly used by the gunman in the Dec. 14 shootings at in Newtown, Conn., according to media reports. There are Walmart stores in many local communities, including Lake Zurich, Palatine, Vernon Hills and Wheeling.

It’s unclear if the chain suspended sales of any other sporting rifles. Searches for “modern sporting rifle,” "semi-automatic rifle” and “bushmaster” displayed guns for sale in stores only. But when checked for availability, all showed as "out of stock."

Find out what's happening in Vernon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patch also left a message with Walmart’s media relations staff, but that message has not been returned.

Also see: 

Find out what's happening in Vernon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Guns Out of Stock at Wal-Mart as Magazine Prices Surge on on Bloomberg

Dick's Sporting Goods

Dick's Sporting Goods has suspended sales of semi-automatic weapons at its stores following the Newtown shootings, according to a report from CNN.

The chain includes 511 stores in 44 states. Locally, there are stores in Arlington Heights, Deer Park, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills. The company posted this message to its website:

"We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community.

Out of respect for the victims and their families, during this time of national mourning we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chainwide.

We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this terrible tragedy."

A search of the Dick's Sporting Goods website for “semi-automatic rifles” produced a handful of paintball guns, but no lethal weapons. A search for “modern sporting rifles” turned up no results. 

It’s unclear how long the suspension will last.

A message with the company's communication's department has not been returned. 

Do you think the suspension of gun sales at national chains will help prevent future tragedies?


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