Updated as of 5 p.m. Feb. 26

The fallout from last week’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida has hit home for one local company.

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There are growing calls for Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) to stop carrying products from brands owned by an American gun manufacturer.

An online petition started three days ago is calling for MEC to immediately stop selling products made by Vista Outdoor. The Utah-based corporation owns Savage Arms, one of the leading producers of semi-automatic weapons in the U.S. Vista Outdoors owns a number of brads sold by MEC, including CamelBak, Giro, Bushnell, Bolle, Camp Chef and Jimmy Styks.

“In its 40+ year history as a democratically owned business, MEC has made it their mission to demonstrate ethical business practices,” the petition states. “Through principles of fair trade anda ethical sourcing, MEC has lead by example, and sought to inspire other organizations to be socially and environmentally responsible.

“Given the recent massacre of high school students in Parkland, Florida, MEC is facing an urgent ethical obligation: to act in accordance with its ‘Mission and Values’ and immediately stop selling brands owned by Vista Outdoor, a corporation whose profits are derived from the production of assault weapons capable of mass murder.”

On Feb. 14, 17 people were killed and 14 more were injured when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and, armed with an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle, started shooting.

In the days following the shooting, students of the school started a push for greater gun controls in the United States and two nation-wide marches are planned for next month.

Several U.S. companies have already severed ties with the National Rifle Association (NRA) including Delta, United, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Allied Van Lines, MetLife and Enterprise.

In a statement on Twitter Monday, MEC said the company is “gathering facts, listening to our members, and figuring out the best path forward for our co-op.

Thank you @mec members who contacted us with your concerns about Vista Outdoors. Senior mgmt will be discussing this first thing on Monday. We'll have an update for you later in the day. — MEC (@mec) February 26, 2018

Here's an update from MEC pic.twitter.com/t08bpveVPH — MEC (@mec) February 26, 2018

“This involves asking some tough questions about our supply chain practices and transparency and we will continue to be guided by those values. We take pride in these efforts, and know that members look to us for leadership,” the statement reads. “We also know more needs to be done.”

In a statement issued at 5 p.m. Monday, the company said it has heard from members on both sides of the argument and is "evaluating different courses of action and remain committed to figuring out the best path forward for our co-op."

The company said it has heard from those who want MEC to immediately stop carrying those brands owned by Vista Outdoor while others argue that purchasing decisions should be up to individual consumers.

@JessicaEKerr

jkerr@vancourier.com