Another company drops out of gun manufacturing: What’s really going on

Another company, this one among the largest ammunition makers in America, will stop producing firearms following the massacre at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High in February.

Vista Outdoor Inc. has been pressured for months by retailers that sell its other goods like Bell bicycle helmets and CamelBak water carriers, to distance itself from firearms.

The Utah company said Tuesday that it will focus on products for outdoor enthusiasts. It will continue to sell ammunition, its biggest core businesses.

REI, the national outdoor retailer, suspended all orders from Vista in March after it refused to say if it would continue to manufacture weapons.

Vista last year had revenue of $2.5 billion. It is looking for buyers for its Savage and Stevens firearms brands, and other product lines not related to firearms.

Here’s what 5 other companies have done this year:

1. Dick’s Sporting Goods

Dick's Sporting Goods, which owns Field & Stream, announced it would no longer sell assault-style rifles, also referred to as modern sporting rifles. Company officials said they already removed them from all Dick's stores after the Sandy Hook massacre, but they will now remove them from all 35 Field & Stream stores.

“We at Dick’s Sporting Goods are deeply disturbed and saddened by the tragic events in Parkland. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their loved ones,” said CEO Edward Stack in a statement to customers.

2. L.L. Bean

On its Twitter feed, L.L. Bean posted that in the wake of the Parkland shooting on Feb. 14, "we have reviewed our policy on firearm sales, and we will no longer be selling guns or ammunition to anyone under the age of 21."

3. Kroger

Officials with the supermarket chain Kroger announced Thursday that the company's Fred Meyer locations will stop selling guns to people under the age of 21, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kroger sells firearms at 43 Fred Meyer stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

4. Walmart

Walmart is changing its gun-purchasing policy in the wake of the deadly school shooting on Valentine's Day in Parkland, Florida, following the lead of Dick's Sporting Goods, which did the same thing earlier Wednesday. One of the nation's largest retailers and sellers of guns and ammunition, Walmart announced it's raising the age to buy a firearm in its stores to 21. "In light of recent events, we've taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales," the company said in a statement.

5. REI

Washington-based outdoor retailer REI is putting on hold partnerships with a company that owns a gun manufacturer. While REI doesn't sell guns, it does sell products from companies that recently have been acquired by Vista Outdoors. Companies under Vista Outdoors include Giro, Bell, Camelbak, Camp Chef and Blackburn. Vista also owns Savage Arms, which manufactures guns, including modern sporting rifles. READ MORE

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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