Longtime Gunmaker latest in several industry companies to sever ties with Dick’s Sporting Goods over ties to anit-gun lobbyists

O.F. Mossberg & Sons became the latest in a barrage of companies recently to sever all ties with Dick’s Sporting Goods after the retailer reportedly hired gun control lobbyists in April. The action comes on the heels of the same company’s decision to terminate the sale of AR-15-style rifles and raise the minimum purchase age to 21 for all firearms.

The announcement details that Mossberg, effective immediately, will no longer accept orders from Dick’s or Field & Stream, a Dick’s Sporting Goods subsidiary.

“It has come to our attention that Dick’s Sporting Goods recently hired lobbyists on Capitol Hill to promote additional gun control,” said Iver Mossberg, Chief Executive Officer, O.F. Mossberg & Sons. “Make no mistake, Mossberg is a staunch supporter of the U.S. Constitution and our Second Amendment rights, and we fully disagree with Dick’s Sporting Goods’ recent anti-Second Amendment actions.”

Less than a week ago, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industries, voted to expel Dick’s Sporting Goods from its membership for “conduct detrimental to the best interests to the Foundation.”

We believe that hiring lobbyists to oppose American citizens’ freedoms secured by the Second Amendment is wrong. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream, in purportedly doing all of these things, have demonstrated that they do not share our values.

Charles Brown

In a similar move, MKS Supply, marketer of Hi-Point and Inland Manufacturing, announced recently it too would cease to sell any firearms to Dick’s or Field & Stream, as did Springfield Armory, as a clear trend is taking shape in the firearm industry toward companies that actively support gun control measures.

“We believe that villainizing modern sporting rifles in response to pressure from uninformed, anti-gun voices is wrong,” said MKS Supply’s Charles Brown in a statement. “We believe that hiring lobbyists to oppose American citizens’ freedoms secured by the Second Amendment is wrong. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream, in purportedly doing all of these things, have demonstrated that they do not share our values.”

In related news, Forbes recently reported that Dick’s experienced unexpected sales declines following the announcement of its self-imposed gun control measures. Coincidence, we think not.

The lesson here, don’t be a Dick’s.