Delware Attorney General Kathy Jennings asked the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Cabela’s, Inc. over allegations of half a million rounds of ammunition shoplifted from its Christiana location. After more than three months, Cabela’s has failed to substantively respond to the subpoena, according to the state Justice Department.
The DOJ is investigating whether Cabela’s has violated aws, including Delaware’s firearms industry public nuisance law.
The investigation began after reports were received over ammunition being stolen from Cabela’s, which at the time stored rounds unsecured in the middle of the sales floor, with the AG’s office being told that no apparent effort was made to stop massive shoplifting. After the DOJ sent Cabela’s a subpoena, the company relocated ammunition in the Christiana store to an area behind a sales counter.
“In the wrong hands, a single round of ammunition can take a life — but Cabela’s watched a half-million rounds walk out the door,” said Jennings. “Ammo isn’t candy. It shouldn’t be left on a sales floor without a meaningful effort to deter shoplifting. Our team has already gotten results and led Cabela’s to store its ammunition more safely, but our investigation isn’t over. Businesses need to be responsible members of our community; that includes gun dealers taking reasonable steps to prevent gun violence. Unfortunately, Cabela’s casual storage, and their stonewalling of this investigation, tell us that they still aren’t taking that responsibility seriously. We’re asking the court to step in so that we can ensure our neighbors are being kept safe.”
Investigators believe that at least 500,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen from Cabela’s in less than a year — and that a substantial portion of it was sold to drug dealers and other criminals in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Thus far, Cabela’s has failed to promptly or meaningfully respond to the State’s subpoena, according to a release.
DOJ’s investigation explores potential violations of several laws, including but not limited to the Keshall “KeKe” Anderson Safe Firearms Sales Act. The act, passed into law in 2022, is named for KeKe Anderson, an innocent bystander who was killed in a 2016 shooting involving a firearm bought through a straw purchase at Cabela’s. The bill repeals special immunity granted to gun dealers like Cabela’s under state law, making Delaware the first state in the country to repeal a gun industry liability shield.
The Office of Impact Litigation, created by Jennings in 2019, is part of the DOJ’s Fraud and Consumer Protection Division and directs or participates in a number high-profile legal battles, including states lawsuits against pharma and oil companies.
Retailers have been complaining about an increase in shoplifting and a lack of enforcement Retailers have imposed policies that discourage staff from confronting shoplifters, some of whom carry weapons and pepper spray.
Cabela’s is part of a “big box” chain of outdoor equipment stores that also operates under the Bass Pro Shops name. Bass Pro Shops bought Cabela’s and several years ago shuttered its headquarters in Sidney, a small town in Nebraska. Bass Pro Shops is based in Springfield, MO.
Both chains thrived with the help of local government incentives that came from small metro areas eager to see jobs from the massive stores. With no sales tax, Delaware did not need to offer incentives to attract Cabela’s.
A message was sent to Cabel’s-Bass Pro Shop seeking comment on the ammunition issue.
