Walmart ends all handgun ammunition sales and asks customers not to carry guns into stores

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Business

New York (CNN Business)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. Walmart also pressured Congress to enact gun safety measures.

The company, America's largest retailer, said it will stop selling handgun ammunition and ammunition for short-barrel rifles after selling all of its current inventory. Walmart (WMT) will also stop selling handguns in Alaska, the only state where it still sells handguns. And Walmart will request that customers no longer openly carry guns into its 4,700 US stores, or its Sam's Club stores, in states that allow open carry. However, Walmart will continue to sell long barrel deer rifles and shotguns and much of the ammunition for those guns. Walmart will also continue to allow concealed carry by customers with permits in its stores.

In a memo to employees on Tuesday, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart's changes were prompted by the El Paso, Texas, shooting, as well as recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and Midland and Odessa, Texas. "In a complex situation lacking a simple solution, we are trying to take constructive steps to reduce the risk that events like these will happen again," he said. "The status quo is unacceptable." Walmart represents about 2% of the market for guns today, the company said for the first time recently.

Walmart believes it is not among the top three gun sellers in the industry, but it estimates it has about a 20% market share of ammunition sales. On Tuesday, McMillon said that Walmart's changes to ammunition policies will reduce its market share from around 20% to between 6% and 9%. "We believe it will likely drift toward the lower end of that range, over time, given the combination of these changes," he said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/03/business/walmart-ends-handgun-ammo-sales/index.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Come back to me when you've ended ALL ammunition and gun sales, Walmart.

BTW, I've noticed the gun/hunting section almost NEVER has staff attending when I've walked within sight of the area and they are usually situated to the back of the store where, I presume, there are back doors. How hard would it be to do a fast break, grab and run, one MIGHT wonder?

[Maxheader]

11. Yeah, thats what I thought too..

wally world..becoming civilized, one massacre at a time..

The company, America's largest retailer, said it will stop selling handgun ammunition and ammunition for short-barrel rifles after selling all of its current inventory.

[Massacure]

32. About as easy as walking into a bank and demanding cash

You'll get it, but your freedom will be short lived. Some police departments find the amount of shoplifting calls they receive from Walmart to be a nuisance. They'll likely take a stolen firearm much more seriously though.

[hlthe2b]

33. Meh... I've seen my share of shop-lifting arrests at Target, Walmart and elsewhere...

They get the stupid and passive ones, not the stealthy ones or the fast ones. Further, no employee is likely going to help take down someone who has just stolen a gun and ammo. Of course, police would go after them. Some might actually get away with it. The point is, why is it so open to attempts?

[Massacure]

34. Agreed.

Bank employees don't take down burglars either. Walmart just needs to turn the surveillance footage over to the police.

[NickB79]

2. This will be great for gun shops

Cabelas, Bass Pro, Fleet Farm and Gander will be making millions, as will all the smaller gun stores.

[mobeau69]

3. Yes, but people like me won't hate Walmart as much in the future.

They're taking a financial hit with this move but good for them.

[LisaM]

4. Well, I say it's a start.

I'm taking the good where I can find it these days. Yes, other stores might do better, but Walmart is everywhere, and it's also a hint of a change in mindset.

[japple]

24. I agree. Any positive action is better than none. Baby steps.

And others may follow Walmart's lead.

[LisaM]

25. I also think gun owners needs to realize -through incremental steps -

that their life really isn't going to change for most of them, just because some people can't create weapons caches in their basements.

[40RatRod]

5. I am fed up with open carry redneck clowns strutting...

...around our local Walmart every time I go there.

[TomSlick]

31. My plan when I see an open-carry yahoo in a store - any store -

is to yell "GUN!" as loudly as I can and move briskly toward the door shouting "GUN!"

I'm betting it empties the store.

[orleans]

6. well... i guess this is a beginning

(still won't shop there--haven't be in one for years)

[dweller]

8. ok, so will the greeters

be frisking all customers on entry for
concealed weapons and valid permits, and denying entrance to those
packing without permits ?
you know, like they stop all exiting customers to check their receipts and bagged items, or when that 20# bag of dogchow is not in a plastic bag... when they don't even have a bag large enough available?

🤔

✌🏼

[AtheistCrusader]

15. No different than how it is handled in WA state today.

Open carry is legal here, but rarely done. Nobody 'frisks' people on the way into Wal-Mart looking for expired CPL's.

[Freethinker65]

9. This is good and smart for Walmart

No need to piss off true hunters.

Just keep the gun nuts away from their other customers.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Rubber bullets?

maybe ammo is the problem.

[underpants]

12. Duped you. Well, as said above, it's a start

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Ya have to be fast around these parts!

I know the feeling!

(...and I'm trying to track a hurricane while releasing monarch butterflies that just eclosed in my little habitat outside too! )

[sdfernando]

14. OK...Its a start

but I still won't set foot in any Walmart or Sam's Club...haven't for many years and this certainly will not change my mind.

[eggplant]

16. "request"

There is zero reason that they can't just come out and ban carrying in the stores outright.

[OliverQ]

17. I think only Walmart's in Alaska sell handguns, so this isn't really a big step for them.

More PR than anything.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. The article said it is going to phase out all handgun ammunition as well

The AK weapon sales thing is just a blip in their sales portfolio.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

20. Yeah, ok....

Because handguns and handgun ammunition is the real problem...might as well quit selling video games. . .

[USALiberal]

23. Wow, you scare me! Nt

[madville]

36. 90% of all firearm homicides in the US are from handguns

Rifles are less than 5% annually

[Doitnow]

21. I've Never bought anything at a Walmart, looked in once. Now if they do something

meaningful, maybe I'll be tempted to shop there. Like all those connected to Republicanism, I'm sure such attempts make Walmart look like they're trying to put lipstick on a pig. Too little. Too late.

[Bengus81]

22. Big deal.....

[SHRED]

27. Dick's Sporting Goods sales rose after they stopped selling all guns

[GulfCoast66]

35. The Dicks near me still sales guns. Only reasonable hunting guns.

Small capacity rifles and shotguns.

At least they did 2 weeks ago. I thought they had stopped selling AR type guns. Maybe the policy is not in effect yet?

[Raven123]

30. And if the gun toting customer insists on entering the store with a gun, what will Walmart do?

[madville]

37. Report the unwanted person for trespassing

Private business can eject people from their property. They usually are required to ask them to leave first though.

[BlueMississippi]

38. A step in the right direction