Dick's Sporting Goods stores suspend sales of certain rifles

(Pittsburgh) -- The Pittsburgh-based Dick's Sporting Goods chain says it's suspending sales of modern rifles nationwide because of the school shooting in Connecticut.

The company also says it's removing all guns from display at its store closest to Newtown.

Authorities say a gunman killed 26 people, mostly children, with a military-style rifle at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday after killing his mother.

He then killed himself.

A statement posted on Dick's corporate website expresses sympathy for the victims' families.

It says sales of modern sporting rifles will be suspended during ``this time of national mourning.''

It's not clear how long the suspension will last.

The chain has more than 500 stores in Pennsylvania and 43 other states, including at least seven in the midstate.