Two outdoor retailers stall orders with Vista Outdoor over guns

By Christen Smith

Customers shop during the REI DC Flagship Grand Opening on Friday, Oct. 18, 2016 in Washington. (Photo: Kevin Wolf/AP Images for REI)
Two outdoor retailers halted new orders of Vista Outdoor lifestyle brands — including Camelbak water bottles and Giro ski goggles — over the company’s significant profits from gun and ammunition sales.
REI and Mountain Equipment Co-op announced the decision Thursday after customers pressured the respective retailers to cut ties with Vista in the wake of the Parkland shooting last month. Vista’s “silence” on gun control and close ties with the National Rifle Association even inspired angry REI patrons to draft an online petition demanding the retailer drop Vista products entirely. The petition garnered more than 18,500 signatures as of Friday.
“REI does not sell guns,” the company said in a news release Thursday. “We believe that it is the job of companies that manufacture and sell guns and ammunition to work towards common sense solutions that prevent the type of violence that happened in Florida last month.”
REI applauded moves from corporate leadership at Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart for voluntarily banning firearm and ammo sale to customers under 21. Dick’s Chief Executive Officer Edward Stack said “assault-style” rifles would be discontinued permanently from the retailer’s

Source: Guns.com