Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO signs letter seeking Senate action on gun safety bills
Share this post:
The CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods is among leaders of 147 companies across the nation who sent a letter to U.S. Senate members Thursday calling for lawmakers to pass gun safety legislation.
Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack joined leaders from a wide range of industries in signing the letter. Dick’s is based in Findlay.
“Gun violence in America is not inevitable; it’s preventable,” the letter said. “There are steps Congress can, and must, take to prevent and reduce gun violence. We need our lawmakers to support common-sense gun laws that could prevent tragedies like these.”
Leaders from Bain Capital, Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., Uber and Lyft were among those signing the letter. Forty-seven of the companies employ more than 500 people.
“We have a responsibility and obligation to stand up for the safety of our employees, customers and all Americans in the communities we serve,” the letter said.
The business leaders are asking the Senate to act on legislation that’s already passed the House to strengthen background checks of those buying guns and “red flag” laws to permit courts to take guns from a person deemed a public safety threat.
The letter comes after a bipartisan group of mayors from across the country, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, went to Washington on Monday and Tuesday to lobby lawmakers on the issue.
The Republican-led Senate hasn’t acted on the legislation and won’t until it receives affirmation from President Donald Trump that it will be signed into law.
Peduto described a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell during the Washington trip as a “low point of pessimism” about the potential for action to be taken soon.
Stack and Dick’s have been at the forefront of gun safety, and Peduto honored Stack with a leadership award for his actions in June.
In 2018, Dick’s removed assault-style firearms, stopped selling high-capacity magazines and bump stocks and prohibited sales of guns to those under 21.
Dick’s didn’t respond to a request for comment.