APRIL 2018

GLOBAL UPDATES
USA
Leisure retail co-ops suspend goods from company linked to gun maker
p The mass shooting in Florida in February sparked a debate around the corporate social
responsibility of co-operatives in Canada and the USA
After an online campaign prompted by
February's 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: “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, 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 taking to
Twitter to announce their withdrawal
from the co-op.
One wrote: “Mr. Labistour, as a longtime
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.”
Others have come out in support,
with one admirer tweeting: “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 $$$.”
US outdoor retailer 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.”
APRIL 2018 | 15