Schumer Calls On WalMart & Other Retailers To Suspend Assault Weapons Sales While Debated In Congress
Since the Sandy Hook massacre, many states across the country have seen consumer demand for guns skyrocket. According to the Associated Press, there were nearly twice as many background checks in the country for firearms between November and December of this year than during the same time last year. Law enforcement officials in Florida announced that on the day of the shooting, there were 4,805 background check requests for buyers as opposed to the 3,388 the day prior to the shooting. In Georgia, the FBI processed 37,586 background checks for guns in October and that number skyrocketed to 78,998 in December. In Alabama, the number went from 32,850 in October to 80,576 in December. In Connecticut, one gun store, ArmsX, located near Sandy Hook Elementary School noted that the AR-15 style rifle, which was used at Sandy Hook, accounted for more than 25 percent of their recent sales.
Recently, extreme pro-gun advocates announced “Gun Appreciation Day,” which will fall on January 19, 2013. The purpose of this day is to gather as many Americans as possible to go to their local guns store, gun range or gun show and purchase assault weapons. In fact, the website’s goal is to reach 50 million American signatures on their petition that protests a discussion of national gun laws.
Schumer is today calling on the nation’s largest gun retailers to temporarily suspend all sales, online and in stores, of modern assault-style weapons, like the one used at Sandy Hook. He noted that a moratorium on assault weapons would appropriately respect the Second Amendment and the safety of our nation’s children, while Congress debates the best way to implement gun safety laws.
A copy of Schumer’s letter can be found below:
Michael Duke
Chief Executive Officer
Wal-Mart
Thomas Millner
Chief Executive Officer
Cabela’s
James Hagale
Chief Executive Officer
Bass Pro Shops
David Pratt
Chief Executive Officer
Gander Mountain
Darrell Webb
Chief Executive Officer
Sports Authority
Rodney Faldyn
Chief Executive Officer
Academy Sports and Outdoors
Steven G. Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Big Five Sports
Dear Mr. Duke, Mr. Millner, Mr. Hagale, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Webb, Mr. Faldyn, and Mr. Miller,
I write today with a heavy heart; the tragedy that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut, has left an indelible imprint on our national psyche. As a parent, my heart goes out to all of those who lost loved ones in the tragedy as well as the survivors. The people of Newtown —and all our fellow Americans—will have a long journey to try to understand how such a horrific event could occur. On a national level, there is a thoughtful discussion underway about specific legislative approaches to prevent a senseless massacre like this from occurring again. In the meantime, I respectfully request that you temporarily suspend all sales of assault rifles such as the Bushmaster .223 assault rifle and AK-47 rifle.
The Bushmaster .223 allowed Adam Lanza to fire enough rounds to put multiple bullets in each of the twenty slaughtered children in a span of two minutes. It may be that there is an appropriate role for weapons like the Bushmaster in the hands of civilians, but today it is difficult to imagine what that might be. I hope to work together with you to evaluate our laws and identify the best way to balance the rights of individuals with our responsibility to protect the most innocent among us. I am disturbed, however, that while that conversation is ongoing, sales of assault rifles are reportedly skyrocketing and those resistant to change are planning events such as “National Gun Appreciation Day” to protest these conversations. I believe that these activities are counterproductive to the open dialogue we have begun.
As the President recently said, “Our first task [is] caring for our children. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.” I agree with the President and believe that every necessary step must be taken to protect innocent children. Therefore, during this time of grief, reflection, and sadness, I would ask that you follow the action of some of your peers and suspend sales on assault rifles both online and in your retail stores. I also hope that you will join in a conversation with the American people regarding these weapons and how to appropriately respect both the Second Amendment and the safety of our children.
Thank you,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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Lying Commie POS is hauling water from the WON who sleeps at 1500 Penn. Ave. but serves the father-of-lies.
Then stop allowing 300,000 to be aborted each year.
These liars always say it's "for the children" except when it comes to abortion. He's got it right about the we "will be judged" part, though.
He didn't send a letter to Kentucky Gun Co. where I bought a semiautomatic rifle yesterday - they actually had one in stock.
I had already bought a 25 round magazine for it a few weeks ago and now there are none of those. I got that at a company in West Virginia and he didn't send them a letter.
I just ordered 150 rounds of Remington hollow points for the rifle from Cabela’s and that will send in a week or two. He did send them a letter but his letter didn't cover ammo.
I have wrecked his and Hussein's gun grab, magazine grab and likely ammo grab, when it comes to me.
Those little twits are just that - illiterate when it comes to guns - they get all shook up if it's black and looks scary - man, they are really dumb. They need to have another alcohol/fruit drink with a cherry on top and an umbrella in it and leave serious stuff to people who know what they are doing. They are such wimps.