Academy, You're Fired!

[Soccerdad1995]

Personally, the more concerning Academy decision is the development of a database of customers who buy "a lot" of ammo for "assault" weapons. I probably could have dealt with a temporary removal of AR's from display, but the data collection efforts sealed my decision to stop buying from Academy. Fortunately, there are still some other good alternatives out there.

[DevilDawg]

I agree with the "If you're buying guns and ammo from Academy, you just be new to the Internet" club. I bought one firearm there, and it took about 30 mimutes. I had to buy it there, because they are the only ones importing the Yildiz shotguns and I needed a decent cheap O/U. I laugh everytime I see someone buying firearm anything from from Academy.

Do yourself a solid, buy online and work with a FFL near you and maybe even have him shop prices for you. You will be much happier with your purchase, and you are helping a small business owner. That is key to helping your local economy. Academy buys cheap crap from China to appease the sports enthusiast, that's all.

[TXBO]

They should get same treatment CTD got last time.

I'll respectfully disagree..

Seeking cover is not nearly as egregious as scalping.

To many, betrayal is the worst sin of all.

[Jim Beaux]

It's much easier to MMQB Academy's response than it would be to explain to their shareholders why they didn't seek some cover when the libhadis started lobbing mortars their way. Academy is one of the retail faces of the Second Amendment. When's the last time you walked in to a Daniel Defense retail store filled with golfers, tennis players, weightlifters and joggers.?

Academy is not a publicly held company. They are owned by an investment group based on NYC. They have zero interest in supporting the 2A or any other agenda or sport. Heck, they don't even have an interest is supporting pro golf. The investment firm does one thing. Buys companies, grows them, and then sells them for a profit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlberg_Kravis_Roberts

So because they are not publicly held they have no investors?

Not sure what the path your going down is supposed to mean, but yes they do have investors, but no they do not have shareholders. The investors don't care one bit what Academy does or doesn't do. They don't carry if the sell guns or don't sell guns. They care that they bought an asset, and want it to grow and then sell it.

Back on point though, I am not sure why anyone would buy guns from Academy anyhow. Much better deals to be found on slickguns.com. My last 8 purchases were all bought from there and then shipped to an FFL that does transfers for $10.

Of course they have shareholders. I can own my piece of Academy through KKR.... http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/kkr

I agree with you that Academy is not my place to buy guns or ammo, unless they have an unusually good deal. I did buy a shotgun there once.

My point is.... if you're in a fight and the enemy has taken the offensive, do you support the guys on the front lines when they try to find some cover or do you call them cowards and leave them? I'm not excited about what Academy decided to do, but I see it as being stuck between a rock and a hard place. If gun owners abandon academy before they've made a final decision on MSR's, doesn't that decide the issue for them? Wouldn't we have lost a (however small you see it) supporter simply because they haven't passed your own personal purity test? If Academy get thousands of letters from Anti's applauding their decision and we pile on by abandoning them, is that good strategy?

I gotta run to a meeting... Sorry for the quick reply.

This

“Academy’s decision clearly segregates firearms by their appearance, which sends a dangerous message to our politicians that it’s acceptable to do so. We as an industry must stand and fight, together.”

Marty Daniel, President and CEO
Daniel Defense

[TreyHouston]

I have always been a fan of Academy, yes, i buy guns and ammo there as well as most other stuff. I am frustrated that they would take such a political stance on AR15s when the AR15 wasn't even used in the Orlando shooting! I wrote them an email. Guess im off to find a FFL in the tomball area! Probably for the best anyways

[rob777]

I have always been a fan of Academy, yes, i buy guns and ammo there as well as most other stuff. I am frustrated that they would take such a political stance on AR15s when the AR15 wasn't even used in the Orlando shooting! I wrote them an email. Guess im off to find a FFL in the tomball area! Probably for the best anyways

Tomball Pawn. Great prices! Good selection of new firearms. They will order just about anything for you.

[TXBO]

Below is a post I made on another gun forum......

It's much easier to MMQB Academy's response than it would be to explain to their shareholders why they didn't seek some cover when the libhadis started lobbing mortars their way. Academy is one of the retail faces of the Second Amendment. When's the last time you walked in to a Daniel Defense retail store filled with golfers, tennis players, weightlifters and joggers.?

Do I like what DD did? It certainly has some marketing panache. Was it risky for them? I'm guessing the folks that buy DD don't do so at Academy in big numbers. Just a guess.

Am I ready to throw Academy under the bus? Not nearly.

If your first move in this chess match is to fall on your sword, I don't want to play on your team.

I'm not sure from what exactly they need to seek cover.

However, as a shareholder, I'd want to know why the revenues from modern sporting rifles tanked while demand was at an all time high with no real pending litigation.

[anomie]

But I think the original point is that Academy has fewer owners to answer to since they are privately held. That is true regardless of how Academy is structured.

That's why I lead off with 'It's sort of an irrelevant point ...' :)

The bits I wrote about it being hard to figure out appear to be more about my not knowing off the top of my head how to find out than it actually being hard.

[Oldgringo]

Personally, the more concerning Academy decision is the development of a database of customers who buy "a lot" of ammo for "assault" weapons. I probably could have dealt with a temporary removal of AR's from display, but the data collection efforts sealed my decision to stop buying from Academy. Fortunately, there are still some other good alternatives out there.

My point, in the previous Academy post, exactly! All the other talk/reasons is just plain "jabberwocky". (ode to Ogden Nash)

[TreyHouston]

I have always been a fan of Academy, yes, i buy guns and ammo there as well as most other stuff. I am frustrated that they would take such a political stance on AR15s when the AR15 wasn't even used in the Orlando shooting! I wrote them an email. Guess im off to find a FFL in the tomball area! Probably for the best anyways

Tomball Pawn. Great prices! Good selection of new firearms. They will order just about anything for you.

Thanks for the heads up! Ill check it out today

[jb2012]

I actually just bought a yildiz o/u a few weeks ago from academy, but usually I would steer away from big box companies. I liked the shotgun, liked the price, and "needed" (I think we all use need pretty loosely lol) a new shotgun. But I have to say now after this and the data collection I am also going to have to cut my ties. Say what you want, but I just don't agree with hiding from the liberal police. IF, and I say IF, I open carried ever and someone made a comment about how they disagreed with me open carrying I'm not going to hide it for them. I do not, and will not, bow down to other peoples feelings. Is it a little bit harsh? Maybe so, but that's me.

[FCH]

I would like to advocate that you buy from your local gun store (or range) when possible. Running a small business is hard work. They need our support.

[Vol Texan]

Letter posted to the Academy site today by me:

I'm sure you're getting a lot of vitriol-filled feedback regarding your decision to remove the ARs from your display shelves. This will not be one of those - I do respect your right to run your business as you please, but I am compelled to express my disappointment with your decision.

Gun-control supporters have mis-characterized this sporting rifle in the media, and is working to change public opinion on one of the most popular rifles in the US. Their goal, of course, is to ban this rifle completely (and they may succeed at this), and ultimately, they would ban all guns if possible.

By standing together as a unified block, gun owners and suppliers can help influence our lawmakers to make the right decisions, but when a company the size of yours does what you did, you become additional ammo for those who wish to see our 2nd Amendment rights rolled back even further.

As I said in my opening, I am disappointed that you made this decision. This shameful act will have longer-reaching impacts for our country than you can believe. I am just one customer, and the loss of my business will not be a blip in your earnings statement. Regardless of the insignificance of my financial impact on your corporation, however, I will not see the inside of your stores again until you publicly renounce this decision - and I am shall encourage all who I know to do the same.

Thank you for taking the time to read this fully, and I hope you make the right decision going forward.

[Jim Beaux]

Since Academy Sports laid down for the left wing segment attacking our constitutional rights I will not be spending my dollars at your stores.

You are on the shelf with Target Stores now.

Very Sorry You Turned Your Backs on Us

[TXBO]

I find it interesting that Academy didn't remove all the Glocks.