In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, two major retailers are pulling the plug on sales of certain semi-automatic weapons nationwide. 

Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world, has suspended sales of some semi-automatic rifles from all stores.

The company, which is headquartered in Moon Township, also has removed all guns from its chain closest to Newtown, CT.

In a statement, the store said it ordered the move out of respect for the victims and families of Newtown. Friday’s shooting left 20 children, all between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adults dead.

“We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community,” a statement on the Dick’s website said.

CNN reports authorities are working to determine if Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old shooter who killed himself inside the elementary school once the shooting spree was over, tried to buy a gun at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Danbury, which is about 12 miles away from Newtown.

“At this time, reports that the suspect visited one of our stores last week have not been confirmed by law enforcement," the sporting goods store said in a statement to CNN. "Based on our records, we can confirm that no firearms were sold to the suspect identified in this case."

It is unknown how long Dick's ban on semi-automatic rifles, also known as modern sporting rifles, will last, CNN reports.

Also today, Walmart announced it no longer will sell the Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine M4A3 Rifle through its online store.

That military-style assault rifle is in the same family of guns as the one Lanza reportly used in the massacre, the Huffington Post reports. 

Locally, Dick’s Sporting Goods has stores in Cranberry, Ross Township, Robinson, Monroeville and at the South Hills Village Mall in Upper St. Clair and the Pittsburgh Mills Mall in Tarentum.

Walmart also has locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.

We want to know what you think? Do you agree with Dick’s decision to suspend sales of semi-automatic rifles? What about removing the guns from the store near Newtown?

Should Dick’s make the ban a permanent decision?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below or take our Patch Poll.

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