Springfield Armory cuts off Dick’s, Field & Stream over 'attempts to deny' 2nd Amendment freedoms

Springfield Armory has announced that it is cutting ties with Dick's Sporting Goods and its subsidiary, Field & Stream, over the companies' lobbying for gun control.

A post on the Armory's Facebook page made the announcement, citing the reason as Dick's Sporting Goods' — as well as Field & Stream's — "attempts to deny Second Amendment freedoms," a move spurned by the company's "hiring a group for anti-Second Amendment lobbying."

President George Washington ordered the founding of Springfield Armory in 1777. The Armory was opened as a storehouse for America's ammunition and artillery necessary to fight in the Revolutionary War. After the U.S. government officially closed the armory in 1968, its name was eventually licensed for private use in 1974.

What's the history here?

On Wednesday, The Federalist reported that Dick's Sporting Goods and its subsidiary hired three gun control lobbyists in April.

Public lobbying records showed that the company and it's subsidiary "hired two Democrats and one Republican" from a D.C.-based government affairs firm, for the purposes of “[l]obbying related to gun control.”

The forms indicate that the company's “gun control lobbying effort began official on April 27, 2018.”

In the wake of the Parkland, Florida, mass murder, Dick's announced that it would no longer be selling so-called assault weapons or their accessories in all stores, and imposed a new age restriction to purchase firearms.

What is the Armory saying now?

"This latest action follows Dick’s Sporting Goods’ decision to remove and destroy all modern sporting rifles (MSR) from their inventory," the statement continued. "In addition, they have denied Second Amendment rights to Americans under the age of 21. We at Springfield Armory believe that all law-abiding American citizens of adult age are guaranteed this sacred right under our Constitution."

The Armory's statement added that it's "clear" where Dick's and Field & Stream stands on the Second Amendment.

"We want to be clear about our message in response," the statement said. "Their position runs counter to what we stand for as a company. At Springfield Armory, we believe in the rights and principles fought for and secured by American patriots and our founding forefathers, without question."

The Armory's statement concluded, "We will not accept Dick’s Sporting Goods’ continued attempts to deny Second Amendment freedoms to our fellow Americans."