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A regional public media collaboration serving the Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Not All Westerners Thrilled With Sporting Retailer's New Gun Policy

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As students went back to class at Florida’s Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School Wednesday, gun legislation was in the national conversation. The president held a bipartisan meeting at the White House and in the retail world, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it will no longer sell assault-style rifles or high-capacity magazines. The major national gun retailer could face backlash in the Mountain West where gun rights are often considered sacrosanct.

In Wyoming, Rocky Mountain Discount Sports is a competitor with Dick’s Sporting Goods. Dan Petumenes manages the gun counter at Rocky Mountain. He says they’re not planning on changing any of their gun sale policies.

"I think it will be business as usual here," Petumenes said, adding that Dick’s should expect a backlash.

"Especially in Western United States because it’s just a difference in people, it’s a difference in values,"  Petumenes said.

Not only will Dick’s Sporting Goods end its sales of assault-style rifles, it will also stop selling firearms to customers under the age of 21-years-old. In its letter, Dick’s called on elected officials to enact what it calls “common sense gun reform.”

This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, Yellowstone Public Radio in Montana,  KUER in Salt Lake City and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.

KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.