For the most part, I've never worried about paying a little more to keep the money local. If academy has 50rds of .22lr for $5 and the local guy has the same box for $6 I'm buying from the local guy every time!
I wanna thank the OP for this thread! And I hope your message gets through to people that would rather save a couple bucks to buy from the big box stores.
In fairness to some of the big box stores, some do contribute a little to the local causes concerning guns, but no where, and I sincerely want all of you to understand; NO WHERE do they contribute near the levels the local guys do!
It wouldn't be fair for me to name names, but I will tell you that Academy absolutely will not contribute to the NRA Banquet here in Baton Rouge. And don't think we haven't tried! Their excuses for not contributing is so pathetic, I don't know why they even sell firearms. I never support them for firearms related products!