Do You Support Hy-Vee and Other Retailers Removing Controversial Rolling Stone Issue from Shelves?

By B.A. Morelli

The Rolling Stone cover that sparked a controversy about whether the magazine was glorifying Boston Bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev by featuring him on the cover, is rippling right into Cedar Falls - whether you like it or not.
Several retailers including Hy-Vee and Walgreens have decided to pull the magazine from their shelves. 

Rolling Stone is standing by its decision to run the cover. 

Here's a message Hy-Vee posted on its Facebook page:

To our customers:
Hy-Vee has received many questions and complaints from customers regarding the current issue of Rolling Stone magazine, which features a cover photo of the Boston Marathon bombing suspect. In general, the decision whether or not to carry a particular publication rests with each individual store; however, in response to feedback from our customers, we have asked all our stores to refrain from displaying or selling the issue of Rolling Stone in question.

The decision sparked feedback - lot's of it - for the Iowa-based grocery chain. The reaction was mixed, and the post has more than 4,500 'Likes', 600 shares and 650 comments Thursday.
We at Cedar Falls Patch asked our readers what they thought of the decision via our Facebook page. Here's what a few of you said:
"Funny thing is people are "protesting" the issue but you know most of them will buy or borrow an issue to see the story. Just like the Charles Manson issue of Rolling Stone (which is still a best selling issue and won national publication awards)."

"I don't get it ... just because it is Rolling Stone everyone believes that this criminal is getting "rock star treatment?" Right. So if it were Time, no problem? How about Newsweek, is that ok? It's a picture on a magazine to advertise a story - no different from Time, Newsweek, US New and World Report ... you name it."

"Haha! Yeah, either way nobody would buy it anyway. It reflects on Rolling Stone, not Hy Vee."

"I'm shocked! I didn't think anyone bought Rolling Stone anymore."

What do you think? Tell us in the comments.