A company that manufactures bullets and assault rifles – but also owns famous ski equipment brands like Bolle, famous for its goggles and Giro, the helmet manufacturer – is facing issues in the light of the upsurge in US public opinion against businesses involved in the American gun industry following the latest school mass killing in Florida.
A company called REI, which sells outdoor equipment (but not guns) and has six million customers, has said it will stop selling products made by Bolle and Giro’s parent company, Vista Outdoor, because it believes the company does not have any plan to work for what REI describe as “common sense solutions” to the gun control issue in America. Other smaller sporting goods stores are reported to have taken the same action.
“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,” a statement from REI reads, continuing, “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.”
Utah-based Vista, which also bought CamelBak in 2015, have so far not commented on the development.
