Opinion
Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- On June 4-5, the annual Yale Mayors College & CEO Summit was held in New York City. The theme of this year’s CEO Summit was “Trumpeting the Issues without Becoming the Issue: Selective Use of CEO Voice.” Making clear that much of the event was about corporate virtue signaling strategy, “Session 2” on the June 4 agenda was titled, “The Courage to Stand Alone: CEO Voice & Virtue.”
With the promotion of virtue-signaling the goal, Yale secured its two finest practitioners in their respective fields. At the event, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto presented DICK’S Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack with the “Maverick in Leadership Award.” According to a press release from Peduto’s office, the award was for Stack’s “work on behalf of common-sense gun safety measures.”
Peduto presented the award alongside Ethan Allen CEO Farooq Kathwari. History buffs will note the irony attendant to the CEO of a company that trades off the name of an American Revolutionary War patriot promoting gun control.
The choice of Peduto to present the award to Stack was inspired. In his pursuit of gun control, Peduto has breached his duty to the public by advocating for local anti-gun measures that are illegal under Pennsylvania law. It can be argued that Stack has deviated from his duty to shareholders in order to indulge his political predilections.
In December, Peduto’s office proposed a raft of local gun control ordinances in violation of Pennsylvania’s firearms preemption law. The relevant statute (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6120) makes clear,
No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth.
Moreover, the matter of local gun ordinances had already been settled by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In a 1996 case involving a local ordinance that restricted commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms, Ortiz v. Pennsylvania, the court determined,
Because the ownership of firearms is constitutionally protected, its regulation is a matter of statewide concern. The constitution does not provide that the right to bear arms shall not be questioned in any part of the commonwealth except Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, where it may be abridged at will, but that it shall not be questioned in any part of the commonwealth. Thus, regulation of firearms is a matter of concern in all of Pennsylvania, not merely in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the General Assembly, not city councils, is the proper forum for the imposition of such regulation.
Despite the statute and clear precedent, in April Peduto signed legislation restricting the “use” of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms and standard capacity magazines within the city. NRA immediately filed suit against Pittsburgh to vindicate city residents’ rights.
In February 2018, Stack announced that DICK’S and its affiliated Field & Stream stores (no relation to the publication of the same name) would stop selling commonly-owned semi-automatic rifles and would no longer sell any firearms to young adults ages 18-20. Stack also made clear that DICK’S would encourage lawmakers to pass a host of gun control measures, including a ban on commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms and standard capacity magazines, a ban on firearm sales to young adults ages 18-20, and the criminalization of private firearm transfers. The company went on to destroy its existing stock of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms and hire corporate lobbyists to push its anti-gun agenda.
While Stack’s subsequent appearances in the national media might have boosted his ego, the CEO’s gun control push didn’t boost his company’s bottom line. In August 2018, DICK’S blamed sluggish sales partly on, “negative reactions to our policies related to the sale of firearms and accessories.” In December, DICK’S noted that it may close its hunting and fishing-focused Field & Stream stores. In March, DICK’S announced that it would stop selling firearms entirely in 125 of its stores. Later that month, Bloomberg reported that “Dick’s estimates the policy change cost the company about $150 million in lost sales…”
Given the acclamation Peduto’s anarchic behavior has received in the legacy press and gun control circles, look for the lawless mayor to receive some dubious “award” for his gun control advocacy in the coming months. Hopefully Stack will be on hand to present the award and complete the promise of this mutual admiration society. With their haphazard attack-gun-rights-at-all-costs approach, Peduto and Stack deserve each other. Sadly, their constituents and shareholders don’t deserve either.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
Stop in Dicks from time to time to remind them of their anti-gun control knee-jerk BS and that I spend my money at Academy Sports instead.
I drive by Dick’s frequently & don’t consider them worthy my patronage since they demonstrated spinelessness. I have made a number of purchases from Academy in the last month including a pistol purchase. I’ll be back to Academy to buy clothing, outdoor BBQ’ing supplies, etc.
Sorry Dick’s but I hope pink tricycle sales & yoga pants can keep you afloat!
Dicks is done! All their brand new stores in Texas are hemmoraging cash. Sales won’t even support their rent. The stores around Houston are already on the market for future re-leasing. Sad day- I remember Dicks of 20 years ago. All respectable, patriotic, pro- outdoors stores. Now, long gone. Even the Pa. Dicks stores are down sizing as fast as possible. Product quality is way down, prices are way up, customer service is non existent.
WHERE THIS WILL REALLY KILL DICKS is not just gun sale loss but the many gun owners who will now not buy socks, shoes, jackets, fishing gear, sports gear or other stuff from them due to that anti Second Amendment stuff they did.
It’s obvious that the mayor of Pittsburgh like Dick’s.
You win!!!
I don’t do any business with Mr Dick, or his brother Mr Head. Nor will I do business with any company headquartered in Pittsburgh.
a p**uto & some dick’s, no surprise in armpits-burg. sorry for you patriots living there.
That award and $10 will get them a cup of coffee at Satf***s…won’t get them any customers, though.
Starf***s, that is.
Once I heard they were dropping all things related to firearms, I boycotted ’em. Haven’t been back even once…not even to look around. I also don’t go to any “No Carry” establishments of any kind. I prefer not to be a fish in a barrel when the idiot that decides he’s gonna play shoot ’em up, goes into some store or restaurant and has his day of craziness.
When you shop or eat at any of these establishments you give the message to them that it’s OK to do what they’re doing. Stop it! Boycott ’em all!
I entertained the idea of carrying a certificate for them to sign that obligates any no weapons store for my 100% safety and medical care should I be injured by some fool on their premises. I have said that to some employees a couple times and you should have seen the raised eyebrows….no free lunch folks demand I play it your way – there are other consequences other then the feel good we care line of BS. Try it, it’s fun to see that realization come across their faces.
Join the national boycott of Dicks (Sissys) and their field a nd stream stores. Lets help put them out of business!
Tell mayor peduto (coward) to take his New World Order gun banning plans and to shove them up his New World Order asshole!! He’s just another mentally unstable, psychotic, meth using, goofball, who looks at photos of micheal Bloomberg and masterbates!!
What a Dick!
Pittsburgh picked their mayor and they picked their poison…..I don’t live in PA but over the years I have spent a lot of money there…weekend vacations, Steelers games, baseball and hockey games…spent a long weekend with the NRA a few years ago….but, NO MORE.. I am just one person with family, but if every 2A person does the same, Pittsburgh will slowly feel it…just as Dick’s and the furniture stores are…people vote every day…with their hard earned money. Don’t spend a dime with these bastards..hit them with the only thing they understand…in their pocketbook…It’s time for stockholders to rethink their… Read more »
I would not by a jock-strap at Dicks.
Dicks is run by a bunch of cowardly butt fucks is that stupid five dollar award worth the millions of dollars they have lost every since they decided to become a bunch of liberal dildos……
I will not shop the chain
In Maryland, there is a noticeable BOYCOTT of the “CEO’s” Dick Store. Plenty of other stores that recognize and support LEGAL LAW ABIDING Americans’ RIGHTS!!!!!!
I never have, their prices have always been higher than everyone else’s. Will never even set foot in their stores, except maybe when the have a bankruptcy liquidation sale!
I used to have to deliver to DICKS, they were about the worst to deliver to, couldn’t get to the dock with the truck and had to carry the products through the back door or carry it in the front door, a real jerk-water operation and nobody that knew anything but stick-ball dreams!!!!!!!! Never did buy anything there and don’t intend to now or in the future, like I said jerk-water operation!!!!!!!!
Dick’s? You cant have one and be CEO there.
You would think an outdoor store would try to find a woman that wasn’t so outdoor gear unfriendly.
Isn’t Stack genderless like all lefties?
Ahh Peduto, the upholder of the DICKS…. DICKS no longer exists….. I guess the anti gun, ridiculously bearded asshole Mayor of Pittsburgh hasn’t realized that on A-N-Y morning you can tune into the news (channels 2-4-11) and there are at LEAST 3 to 4 murders in his liberal, thug packed city of Pittsburgh. These are done by his vote for me, friends, the THUGS, that will vote Democrat due to Peduto’s free ride and their now undoubtedly safer killings of the unarmed and/or OTHER drug/ass dealers. Murder and drugs are RAMPANT in his Democrat/liberal “utopia” as with the other Dem/lib… Read more »
Dick’s will continue to loose money due to thier un American position and soon we will not even hear thier name . Thier share holders will sell out and Dick’s will be gone for good ! The award they received can be used as a tombstone for all the dead Dick’s stores .
The Mayor and his cronies were probably the most people Dick’s had in their store at one time since they stopped selling guns. I heard that they were going to change the name of the place to something more appropriate; “Pussy’s”.
Won’t ever darken their door. Told them so too. Felt good. The dumb millennial kids working there had that stupid bewildered look on their sheep faces when I did tell them.
Don’t be a ‘Dick’ Don’t do business with Dicks!
FUCK DICK’S SPORTING GOODS, AND IT;S DICKHEAD CEO EDWARD STACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope all you folks are proud of the mayor. This guy and his city council enacted laws that contradicted state law knowingly. Now there will be a huge legal battle at the expense of the taxpayers while these jerks get to claim the high ground. Never mind that the ‘gun violence’ continues unabated.
Wasn’t a fan of Dick’s to begin with – quality of product just okay with exorbitant pricing.
Isn’t it fun to avoid these leftist merchants by just driving on by, “Not one dime of mine”!
Woohoo……
When do Mayor of Pittsburgh – City Council get charged with the very real crime of Official Oppression ?
Never see it in today’s day and age this is for real and it will get a lot worse the gross power these people hold is going to end in the worse kind of way and Americans will suffer unconditionally at there hands till all rights are gone which most are at this point. We over pay in taxes and pay double tax on things we own out right like are homes and cars. We make them rich keep us poor they been doing it a long time and no one is taught any different. America is in the hands… Read more »
Since they announced their shenanigans, I have bought exactly one thing from them – A holster I was pretty sure I didn’t want, but needed for a pistol course I was taking. I returned it afterwards, so I didn’t actually give them money.
I like to hope that hurt them in some small way. (credit processing fees? wasted inventory?) Otherwise, I’ve not spent a dime there in a LONG time.
I have 2 dunhams closer than my local dicks/F&S stores… and dunhams is still happy to put AR15s on their sunday flyer.
I agree with everything these people have said aside from my comment. I mentioned in another article in the comments about how dicks pulled AR-15 rifles from their shelves ahead of the supposed assault rifle ban that never went through during the Obama era. You talk about gutless and conformist and just Too Faced definition of a leftist business.
I have no idea why they even sell what they do but rest assured I haven’t spent a dime in that shithole ever since the Obama days nobody I know ever will either.
Ethan Allen would and probably is rolling in his grave. During the Revolutionary War, there was no overall ruler, and as a result, people in power, such as governors or sheriffs, would just take people’s land. Many colonists were victims of this kind of behavior. After a certain amount of this, a man by the name of Ethan Allen decided he had had enough. So he rounded up whichever of his friends he could find, and they decided to protect what was theirs. On one occasion, a New York sheriff came down to New Hampshire where Allen’s boys were, and… Read more »
Dr. James: What do you mean “… and their Field and Stream affiliates?” Otherwise, good riddance to bad rubbish. Regardless of which amendment to our Constitution that has come into play such a business deserves to be boycotted. Take for example Amendments XIII, XV or XIX (Slavery, Racism, and Right to Vote) and suppose some retailer, perhaps WalMart, was to take it upon themselves to withhold pay from employees but hold them in servitude or maybe suddenly blacks are not allowed in WalMart stores and finally, henceforth, WalMart employees no longer have the right to vote. (All hypothetical and tongue… Read more »
If you honor our Constitution, you will not spend any money at Dicks….. they are anti-gun and when ammunition was scarce in the early days of Obama’s admin. ….. they gouged the public by raising the prices way, way up.
Stay away from Dicks and their Field and Stream affiliates,
I have not been in a DICK’S since their stupidity
Boycott DICK’S
I have not been in a DICK’S since they began their stupidity the first time in 2012,I make it a point to not do business with Dicksheads.