Two employees resign over Dick's Sporting Goods decision stop selling 'assault-style weapons

At least two Dick’s Sporting Goods employees have resigned after the company CEO banned the sale of "assault-style weapons" and raised the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 18 to 21 in all its stores nationwide. The change was made in response to recent Florida school shooting.

What did they say?

Alexander DeGarmo, 20, told Fox News he decided to quit because he could not purchase the same items he was selling at the retailer. He said he was happy with the company until CEO Edward Stack made the announcement about gun purchases.

"Until Edward Stack came out with these absolutely arbitrary and insane rules I had no issue [working there]," DeGarmo said.

He said the policy discriminates based on age.

DeGarmo told Fox News he believes the solution is not to raise the purchase age but to teach responsible gun ownership and improve mental health services.

Former co-workers reacted positively to his reasons for leaving Dick’s, DeGarmo said.

Another employee, Griffin McCullar, 20, also resigned over the company's new policy.

On Thursday, Mccullar posted a photo of a printed resignation letter on his Facebook page.

"I cannot be the face of these new gun policies in affect [sic]," the letter states. "I find them morally and constitutionally wrong. I refuse to be a part of a corporation with these liberal policies."

Mccullar, a self-described avid hunter, apologized for his abrupt departure. He also said he had enjoyed great experiences with his coworkers and the management at Dick’s.

What other retailers are doing this?

Other retailers that have upped the gun purchase age to 21 include L.L. Bean, Kroger and Walmart.

L.L. Bean sold guns only at its store in Maine, according to Newsweek.

Carolyn Beem, L.L. Bean's spokesperson, told Newsweek it only sells hunting guns. It does not sell not assault rifles like the one Nikolas Cruz allegedly used in the Florida high school mass shooting that left 17 dead.

Since the shooting, Walmart has also decided to sell guns only to people 21 and older. The retailer is America’s biggest seller of firearms.

“In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales,” Walmart said in a statement.

Walmart stopped selling of assault rifles in 2015, so the age restriction applies to other weapons. Walmart has said it stopped selling assault rifles due to lower customer demand.

Korger, America’s largest grocery chain, announced Thursday it will no longer sell firearms at its Fred Meyer stores.

“Recent events demonstrate the need for additional action on the part of responsible gun retailers. We are raising the minimum age to 21 to purchase firearms and ammunition in all of our Fred Meyer locations that sell firearms,” Kroger announced in a statement.