New gun policy impacts Sandusky-area Dick's Sporting Goods

PERKINS TWP. — The corporate office of Dick's Sporting Goods announced Wednesday it will no longer sell assault-style rifles or high capacity magazines at any of its stores.The local Dick Sporting Goods, just off Milan Road (U.S. 250) near the Sandusky Mall, hasn't sold assault-style weapons since the corporate office cut off the sales following the Sandy Hook school shooting.The new policy will remove assault-style rifles from the more than 30 Field and Stream stores it owns that were unaffected by the previous ban.The Sandusky sporting goods store is now prohibited from selling rifles to anyone under the age of 21 under the new policy.The recent corporate announcement comes in the wake of the Parkland shooting in Florida in which 17 people, mostly students, were killed. In November, a Dick's Sporting Goods store followed all laws and sold a shotgun to the suspected gunman, 19-year-old Nickolas Cruz."It was neither the gun nor type of gun he used in the shooting. But it could have been," Stack said in a letter released Wednesday. "Clearly this indicates on so many levels that the systems in place are not effective to protect our kids and our children."Stack implored elected officials in the letter to pass the following gun law reforms:• Ban assault-style firearms• Raise the minimum purchasing age to 21• Ban high capacity magazines and bump stocks• Require universal background checks that include relevant mental health information• Create a universal database of people banned from buying firearms• Require background checks for private sales of firearms''We support and respect the Second Amendment, and we recognize and appreciate that the vast majority of gun owners in this country are responsible, law-abiding citizens," Stack said in the letter. "But we have to help solve the problem that's in front of us. Gun violence is an epidemic that's taking the lives of too many people, including the brightest hope for the future of America — our kids."Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegisterThe Sandusky Dick's Sporting Goods.