Dick's Sporting Goods could stop selling guns this year in response to Dayton and El Paso shootings

One of America's biggest gun retailers, Dick's Sporting Goods, is exploring whether to end the sales of its hunting weapons in the wake of recent mass shootings. 

It has been testing what it would be like to pull out entirely from the so-called 'hunt' business, and the company is expected to announce the results on Thursday. 

Last Autumn, the company stopped selling its hunting gear in 10 stores to test the waters, and has since pulled its hunting business from a further 125 stores nationwide. 

Currently there are more than 720 Dick's stores around the country. Dick's said it would study the impact on overall store sales at those 125 stores, and announce the findings later this week.