After an online campaign prompted by the latest mass shooting in the US, two leisure co-op retailers have stopped selling brands linked to a US gun manufacturer.
Internet petitions called on US co-op REI and Canada’s Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) to drop goods from Vista Outdoor, which owns Savage Arms, a company which makes rapid-fire semi-automatic rifles with high-capacity magazines.
These are functionally similar to the weapon used in the attack at the Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on 14 February, in which 17 people were killed.
The co-ops do not sell guns, but had stocked camping and outdoor gear from other brands owned by Utah-based Vista Outdoor Inc, including CamelBak, Bollé and Jimmy Styks.
MEC chief executive David Labistour announced it was suspending further orders with the five brands owned by Vista Outdoor which it carried – Bollé, Bushnell, CamelBak, Camp Chef and Jimmy Styks.
“Existing inventory will remain on our shelves until it has sold through,” he said in an open letter, while MEC will continue to engage with these brands and its peers in the outdoor industry “in ways that are consistent with our mission and values”.
Mr Labistour said the co-op would also “lean in further on the question of what corporate social responsibility means for MEC, widening our scope beyond environmental footprint and responsible sourcing to consider ownership structures”.
“The issue of gun violence and questions surrounding responsible gun use, ownership and manufacturing have made headlines around the world,” he wrote.
“Thousands of MEC members have contacted us to express their concerns and to ask that we stop selling products made by these brands.
“We’ve also heard from members who believe that purchasing decisions like these should be left to individual consumers and that MEC should not get involved. The fact is, the debate has involved us and as a member-based organisation we are compelled to respond.
“We have taken time to listen to our members’ views, consult internally and reach out to others in our industry. From what we’ve heard, we know that no decision we make will satisfy everyone. We are in the midst of a complex and highly charged debate.
“My responsibility as CEO is to ensure that we make thoughtful, informed decisions in the best interest of our co-op and effect change where this is possible and consistent with our presence in the marketplace.”
He added: “On a very personal note, many of us come from parts of the world where we have witnessed the use and impact of guns first-hand. I include myself in that community. I have proudly served in the military and grew up in a rural area where hunting was commonplace.
“I can readily identify with our members who are on all sides of this debate. At the same time, my personal experience has taught me about the power of engagement. I believe that engagement is the path to change, as tough as it might be.
“So, the questions before us are: what can a Canadian retail co-operative with more than five million members … do to effect positive change while continuing to ensure that we serve our members’ needs? At the same time, how do we act as a catalyst for this important debate while we maintain the integrity of our co-op?”
The issue has been a divisive one for MEC’s membership, with tweets sent supporting and opposing the move, and several pro-gun members have taken to Twitter to announce their withdrawal from the co-op.
Mr. Labistour, as a long-time MEC member for over thirty five years, I am extremely disappointed and saddened with this decision. Please go ahead and cancel my membership. I will never set foot in a MEC store again.
— Michael Carman (@Arc_Light) March 2, 2018
Others have come out in support.
Proud to be a @mec member. I’ll be showing my appreciation for the decision to cut ties with @SavageArms and @VistaOutdoorInc in the only way I can $$$.
— Hannah Frazer (@HannahFrazer8) March 2, 2018
US -based REI, which stocks several Vista brands, has also put orders on hold.
In a statement, the co-op said: “REI does not sell guns. We believe that it is the job of companies that manufacture and sell guns and ammunition to work towards common sense solutions that prevent the type of violence that happened in Florida last month.
“This morning we learned that Vista does not plan to make a public statement that outlines a clear plan of action. As a result, we have decided to place a hold on future orders of products that Vista sells through REI while we assess how Vista proceeds.
“Companies are showing they can contribute if they are willing to lead. We encourage Vista to do just that.”
