Dick’s

Dick’s Sporting Goods announced earlier in the week that they will no longer sell assault-style rifles and large ammunition clips. They will also require gun purchasers to be at least 21 years old. Several other retailers have since followed suit, but Dick’s was the first.

I have appreciated seeing their president, Ed Stack, in the media, explaining the move. Dick’s, while now being a large company, started as a single local store opened by Dick Stack. Ed and his siblings expanded the business from two stores to over 700 today. While it is publicly traded, the Stack family still leads the company.

The family is very committed to community involvement. Dick’s stepped in to sponsor a golf tournament on the Champions tour that is an important fundraiser for local charities. They serve on boards and contribute to charitable and civic causes. They try to uphold civic values in their business decisions.

I know all of this because one of the Stack children lives in my town and has been an important part of the civic and charitable landscape. Having served on school board and in our county legislature, she even ran for Congress, a bid that was, unfortunately, unsuccessful.

The original Dick’s store in Binghamton is still open. I remember shopping there not too long after I moved to the area in 1982. The large, modern Dick’s is located just a couple of miles away from my home. The Dick’s Sporting Goods Open takes place at a public golf course just across the river.

Thank you, Stack family, for leading the way in trying to reduce military-style weapons and ammunition in the hands of civilians. I am glad others are following your lead.