After the most recent shooting last Saturday that made national news, where a man killed 7, and injured at least 25 in two different Texas cities, politicians and corporations react. This time in addition to political rhetoric, Walmart today has decided to ban (or discourage) legal open carry in its stores and discontinue handgun ammo sales. It is unclear if they will issue a statement on legal conceal carry inside their locations. This comes after Walmart has already discontinued other things such as AR-15 style weapons in 2015 and any sales of guns and ammo to persons under 21 in 2018.
From APNews:
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based discounter said Tuesday it will stop selling short-barrel and handgun ammunition, including .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber used in military-style weapons, after it runs out of its current inventory. It will also discontinue handgun sales in Alaska, marking its complete exit from handguns and allowing it to focus on hunting rifles and related ammunition only.
BREAKING: Walmart says it will discontinue the sale of handgun ammunition and also publicly request that customers refrain from openly carrying firearms in stores even where state laws allow it.
SEE TWEET FROM @AP BELOW:
BREAKING: Walmart says it will discontinue the sale of handgun ammunition and also publicly request that customers refrain from openly carrying firearms in stores even where state laws allow it. https://t.co/MzSqbfMfgr
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 3, 2019
Updated 2:57 ET:
Conservatives are upset about the move by Walmart.
Fox News contributor chimed in on Twitter regarding the news. She says she’s curious if Walmart will now provide armed security at all of its stores now that they have conveyed they don’t want people open carrying guns.
“Curious if Walmart will now provide armed security at all of its stores now that the company has made clear it doesn’t like individuals who do their duty to carry and do their best to protect themselves. (the answer is obviously no)”
SEE TWEET FROM @KatiePavlich BELOW:
Curious if Walmart will now provide armed security at all of its stores now that the company has made clear it doesn't like individuals who do their duty to carry and do their best to protect themselves. (the answer is obviously no)
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) September 3, 2019
Former NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch retweeted CNN stating:
“So the larger, more powerful caliber is still available. They’ll virtue signal by eliminating sales of the smaller caliber (and most popular for women who own rifles chambered for this).
Good grief, Walmart.”
SEE TWEET FROM @DLoesch BELOW:
So the larger, more powerful caliber is still available. They'll virtue signal by eliminating sales of the smaller caliber (and most popular for women who own rifles chambered for this).
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 3, 2019
Good grief, Walmart. https://t.co/xtGNvowbSE
Liberals Beto O’Rourke and Alyssa Milano cheered the decision. Beto, who recently went on record stating that he thinks the government should buy back all AR-15 and AK-47 style weapons from Americans, had this to say:
“This is a step in the right direction—and I’m grateful Walmart has taken action—but we can’t rely on corporations to stop gun violence. We need universal background checks, we need red flag laws, and we need to buy back every single assault weapon.”
SEE TWEET FROM @BetoORourke BELOW:
This is a step in the right direction—and I'm grateful Walmart has taken action—but we can't rely on corporations to stop gun violence. We need universal background checks, we need red flag laws, and we need to buy back every single assault weapon. https://t.co/m8fr3qzZcx
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) September 3, 2019
SEE ALYSSA MILANO’S TWEET FROM @Alyssa_Milano BELOW:
Walmart on Tuesday announced it will reduce its gun and ammunition sales, one month after more than 20 people were killed in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 3, 2019
Walmart also pressured Congress to enact gun safety measures.
Thank you, @Walmart.