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Dick’s CEO reveals he destroyed $5 million worth of assault weapons after storewide ban

“If we really think these things should be off the street, we need to destroy them.”

By

Tperry

By  Tperry
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One of the biggest obstacles to getting assault weapons banned in the United States is the amount of money they generate.

There were around 10 million guns manufactured in the U.S. in 2016 of which around 2 million were semiautomatic, assault-style weapons. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry’s trade association, the U.S. industry’s total economic impact in 2016 alone was $51 billion.

In 2016, the NRA gave over $50 million to buy support from lawmakers. When one considers the tens of millions of dollars spent on commerce and corruption, it’s no wonder gun control advocates have an uphill battle.

That, of course, assumes that money can control just about anyone in the equation. However, there are a few brave souls who actually value human life over profit.

One CEO stood up and put his money were his mouth is, even though it cost his business an estimated $250 million, is Ed Stack, CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods.

After a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2018, Dick’s stopped selling assault-style rifles at all 729 of its namesake stores and subsidiaries across 47 states in the U.S.

RELATED: Dick’s Sporting Goods Pulls Assault Rifles From Shelves And Wants Them Banned Altogether

It also announced it would not sell any firearms to people under the age of 21.

That announcement came after it had stopped selling assault-style rifles at its namesake stores in 2012 after the Sandy Hook shooting.

While announcing the ban, Dick’s stepped its toes into the political debate by imploring elected officials to enact common sense gun reform by passing the following regulations:

— Ban assault-style firearms
— Raise the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21
— Ban high capacity magazines and bump stocks
— Require universal background checks that include relevant mental health information and previous interactions with the law
— Ensure a complete universal database of those banned from buying firearms
— Close the private sale and gun show loophole that waives the necessity of background checks

The decision was partly inspired by the ugly truth that Dick’s sold a shotgun to the Parkland shooter three months before the massacre, although it wasn’t used at the shooting.

“We did everything by the book. We did everything that the law required, and still he was able to buy a gun,” Stack said. “When we looked at that, we said the systems that are in place across the board just aren’t effective enough to keep us from selling a gun like that.

Currently, 125 of Dick’s 729 stores no longer sell guns of any kind. Stack is looking to expand that number.

RELATED: Doctor explains why he checks dead patient’s Facebook before notifying their parents

However, for Stack, taking the moral high road hasn’t come without its costs.

“How much did you think you were going to lose?” CBS News’ Lee Cowan asked Stack.

“A quarter of a billion dollars,” Stack replied. “And how much did you actually lose?” Cowan repled.

“About a quarter of a billion! Pretty close,” Stack said.

At the time of the ban, Dick’s had about $5 million worth of assault-style rifles in its inventory and he decided to turn it into scrap metal.

“I said, ‘You know what? If we really think these things should be off the street, we need to destroy them,’” he said.

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    A monk teaches his students about enlightenment. He asks them to imagine holding a cup of coffee when someone bumps into them, causing it to spill. When he asks why the coffee spilled, the students quickly reply that it was because someone bumped into them.

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    Dial goes on to explain the impactful meaning behind the monk’s simple philosophy:

    “When life shakes you, which it will, whatever you carry inside of you will spill out. So if you’re carrying anger, or fear, or hatred, or jealousy, then that is what is going to spill out of you in those moments. But, if you’re carrying love and kindness and compassion and empathy, then that is what is going to spill out you.”

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    If this is the challenge we face each day, the real question becomes: how do we prepare ourselves for what life might throw our way? Dial suggests the answer lies in an intentional pause. “Each morning,” he says, “it’s important for you to stop and close your eyes and ask yourself, ‘What am I carrying inside of me today?’”

    That small act of self-awareness can shape everything that follows. If we choose to bring despair, judgment, and negativity, those emotions will most likely surface when things don’t go as planned. But if we choose to center ourselves in kindness and compassion, we’re far more likely to respond with those qualities instead.

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    Significant time and research have gone into understanding the benefits of a morning routine. These practices help build a kind of “spiritual armor” that prepares us to face the day with confidence. Simple habits like getting sunlight, drinking water, moving our bodies, and practicing mindfulness can boost energy and improve mood.

    A 2024 study found that morning activities like loving-kindness meditation can positively affect people’s mental health. Individuals with a regular practice tend to be more positive, mindful, and compassionate. The length or specific details of the practice have little effect on outcomes when compared with one another.

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    The Tsimané people of Bolivia have almost no dementia. Scientists say modern life is our problem.

    Their rate of dementia is roughly 1%. In the United States, it’s 11%.

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