In wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world has suspended sales of certain kinds of semi-automatic rifles from its stores nationwide.

PA-based Dick’s Sporting Goods also has removed all guns from its chain closest to Newtown, Conn.

Also today, Walmart announced it no longer will sell the Bushmaster Patrolman's Carbine M4A3 Rifle through its online store.

A military-style assault rifle, the Bushmaster is in the same family of guns as the one Lanza reportedly used in the massacre, the Huffington Post reports.

The move by Dick's was made in respect to the victims and families of Newtown, the sporting goods chain said in a statement. Friday’s shooting left 20 children, all between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adults dead.

“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,” a statement on the Dick’s website said.

CNN reports authorities are working to determine if Adam Lanza, the 20-year-old gunman who killed himself inside the elementary school after the shooting spree ended, tried to buy a gun at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Danbury, which is about 12 miles away from Newtown.

“Reports that the suspect visited one of our stores last week have not been confirmed by law enforcement," the sporting goods store said in a statement to CNN. "Based on our records, we can confirm that no firearms were sold to the suspect identified in this case."

It is unknown how long the ban on the semi-automatic rifles, also known as modern sporting rifles, will last, CNN reports.

Locally, Dick’s Sporting Goods has stores in Highland Heights, Lyndhurst and Westlake.

We want to know what you think: Do you agree with Dick’s decision to suspend sales of semi-automatic rifles? What about removing the guns from the store near Newtown?

Should Dick’s make the ban a permanent decision?

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