Outdoor retailer REI has put on hold the sale of products made by gun maker Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO), it said in a statement on Thursday — stressing that such companies should work towards solutions to prevent violence.
REI, which does not sell guns, said it paused selling Vista products like its Camelbak water bottles and Camp Chef stoves.
In addition to the sporting goods products it sells in REI, Vista also makes rifles under its Savage Arms brand.
"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," the retailer’s statement said.
In the weeks following the murder of 17 people in a high school in Florida, there has been unprecedented corporate pressure on the gun industry.
Earlier on Thursday, grocer Kroger said it would no longer sell guns to those under 21 years at the Fred Meyer chain it owns, joining Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS), which made a similar announcement on Wednesday.
Dicks also said it will stop selling assault-style rifles in its Field & Stream stores, as well as high-capacity magazines.
On Thursday, gun maker American Outdoor Brands, formerly Smith & Wesson, saw shares plummet over 20% after reporting a large year-on-year sales decline.
Shares of Vista Outdoor, which has a market capitalization of $984 million, are down 12% since the massacre. The shares faded $1.60, or 9.3%, Friday to $15.57.
