A nation-wide sporting goods store is temporarily suspending sales of modern rifles in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Connecticut.
According to store officials, Dick's Sporting Goods is removing all guns from display at its store closest to Newtown, where the massacre took place on Friday morning.
A gunman killed more than two dozen people, 20 of them children, with a military-style rifle at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday after killing his mother, according to investigators. The gunman then killed himself.
A statement posted on Dick's corporate website expresses sympathy for the victims' families.
"We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community," the statement reads.
It says sales of modern sporting rifles will be suspended during "this time of national mourning," out of respect for the victims.
"We have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chainwide," the statement continued. "We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this terrible tragedy."
It's not clear how long the suspension will last.
Pittsburgh-based Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. has more than 500 stores in 44 states.
