NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart announced Wednesday that it will no longer sell firearms and ammunition to people younger than 21 and would also remove items resembling assault-style rifles from its website.
The move comes after Dick’s Sporting Goods announced earlier in the day that it would restrict the sale of firearms to those under 21 years old. It didn’t mention ammunition. Dick’s also said it would immediately stop selling assault-style rifles, and its CEO took on the National Rifle Association by demanding tougher gun laws.
Walmart said its decision came after the company reviewed its firearm sales policy in light of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people. The teenage gunman used an AR-15 rifle. It said it takes “seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms” and also emphasized its background of serving “serving sportsmen and hunters.”
Several major corporations, including MetLife, Hertz and Delta Air Lines, have cut ties with the NRA since the Florida tragedy, but none were retailers that sold guns. The NRA has pushed back aggressively against calls for raising age limits for guns or restricting the sale of assault-style weapons.
Walmart Inc. stopped selling AR-15 guns and other semi-automatic weapons in 2015. It doesn’t sell bump stocks, the accessory attached to a semi-automatic gun that makes it easier to fire rounds faster. It also doesn’t sell large-capacity magazines. It also says it doesn’t sell handguns, except in Alaska.
In announcing the change in policy, the company said it had processes in place to make sure it was applied for online sales.
Not a huge step, but still better than what Congress or most states have done in the past 10 years.
I’m not a big fan of corporate America in general, and I know they’re all doing things mainly for business reasons. But, hopefully, they will continue to shun the NRA and take steps to limit sales of weapons and high-capacity magazines.
How nice of them even though it’s not going to make a bit of difference. Now, when will they start hiring full time employees with a living wage and benefits?
Good for Wal-Mart. Sensible response.
The CNN interview with Dick’s CEO is worth a listen. They are going to get backlash and lose some business, but he thinks it’s worth it. “We don’t want to be a part of this story any longer.” He comes on at about 50 seconds in.
ETA: I’m thinking my truck needs a Dicks’s Sporting Goods bumper sticker.
Michelle Goldberg (NYT columnist) was on Chris Hayes’ show a couple nights ago and she pointed out that rural Republicans have outsized influence in the voting booth because of structural reasons like every state having two senators. At the same time wealthier, Blue state people and young people tend to be the most sought after consumers. This is evidenced by corporations and sports franchises taking more progressive stands on social issues to avoid alienating their customers. And, I suppose, “some are good people.”