Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 4 september 2019

Walmart to stop some ammo sales, ask to not open carry guns

Continued from Front Paso, Texas, killing 22 peo- and restaurants includ-
ple . The gunman used an ing Starbucks, Target and
Walmart stopped selling AK-style rifle — one that Wendy’s in asking custom-
handguns in the mid-1990s, Walmart already bans the ers not to openly carry their
with the exception of Alas- sale of — in the deadliest guns when they visit their
ka. The latest move marks shooting in the company’s premises. But they are not
its complete exit from that history. Texas became an enforcing an outright ban
business and allows it to fo- open carry state in 2016, because they don’t want
cus on hunting rifles and re- allowing people to openly to put their employees in
lated ammunition only. carry firearms in public. confrontational situations.
“In a complex situation lack- Walmart’s moves will re- Walmart says it hopes to
ing a simple solution, we duce its market share of help other retailers by shar-
are trying to take construc- ammunition from around ing its best practices in
tive steps to reduce the risk 20% to a range of about background checks. And
that events like these will 6% to 9%, according to the company, which in 2015
happen again,” according Tuesday’s memo. About In this Aug. 3, 2019, photo Texas state police cars block the stopped selling assault rifles
to a memo by Walmart’s half of its more than 4,750 access to the Walmart store in the aftermath of a mass shooting like the AR-rifles used in sev-
CEO Doug McMillon circu- U.S. stores sell firearms, or in El Paso, Texas. eral mass shootings, urged
lated to employees Tues- around 2% of all U.S. fire- Associated Press more debate on the reau-
day afternoon. “The status arms. Most firearms sales stop selling firearms and ing pressure to change its thorization of the assault
quo is unacceptable.” The are done through thou- ammunition at 125 of its gun policies by gun control weapons ban while also
retailer is further requesting sands of unaffiliated gun 700-plus locations. Kroger’s activists, employees and calling for the government
that customers refrain from shops or gun shows, not big said last year that it would politicians after the El Paso to strengthen background
openly carrying firearms at retail chains. stop selling firearms and shooting and a second checks. Walmart said it sent
its Walmart and Sam’s Club A number of gun control ammunition at its Fred unrelated shooting in Day- letters Tuesday to the White
stores unless they are law activists praised Walmart’s Meyer stores in the Pacific ton, Ohio, that killed nine House and the congressio-
enforcement officers. How- moves, while gun manu- Northwest. Kroger joined people . A few days before nal leadership that call for
ever, it said that it won’t facturers such as Vista Out- Walmart Tuesday in asking that, two Walmart work- action on these “common
be changing its policy for doors and Smith & Wesson customers not to openly ers were killed by another sense” measures.
customers who have per- parent company Ameri- carry their guns when they worker at a store in South- Kroger said late Tuesday
mits for concealed carry. can Outdoor Brands Corp. visit its stores. aven, Mississippi. that it’s joining those en-
Walmart says it will be add- saw their shares fall. But supporters of stricter In the aftermath of the El couraging elected lead-
ing signage in stores to in- Other companies have gun laws say Walmart’s lat- Paso shooting, Walmart ers to pass laws that will
form customers of those responded to public pres- est steps should have an took an initial step of or- strengthen background
changes. sure to restrict gun sales. outsized influence because dering workers in stores na- checks and remove weap-
Last month, a gunman en- Dick’s Sporting Goods an- of its clout, sending a strong tionwide to remove video ons from those who have
tered a Walmart store in El nounced in March it would message to Congress as game signs and displays been found to pose a risk
well as other corporations. that depict violence. But for violence.
“Walmart deserves enor- that fell well short of de- Over the last 15 years,
mous credit for joining the mands for the retailer to Walmart had expanded
strong and growing major- stop selling firearms entirely. beyond its hunting and fish-
ity of Americans who know Critics have also wanted ing roots, carrying items like
that we have too many Walmart to stop supporting assault rifles in response to
guns in our country and politicians backed by the increasing demand. But
they are too easy to get,” NRA. The retailer has long particularly since 2015, of-
said Igor Volsky, execu- found itself in an awkward ten coinciding with major
tive director and founder spot with its customers and public mass shootings, the
of Guns Down America, gun enthusiasts. Many of its company has made moves
in a statement. “That work stores are located in rural to curb the sale of ammuni-
doesn’t end with Walmart’s areas where hunters de- tion and guns.
decision today. As Con- pend on Walmart to get Walmart announced in
gress comes back to con- their equipment. Walmart is February 2018 that it would
sider gun violence, Walmart trying to walk a fine line by no longer sell firearms and
should make it clear that trying to embrace its hunt- ammunition to people
it stands with Americans ing heritage while being a younger than 21 and also
who are demanding real more responsible retailer. removed items resembling
change.” With its new policy on assault-style rifles from its
The National Rifle Associa- “open carry,” McMillon website. Those moves were
tion posted a tweet attack- noted in his memo that prompted by the mass
ing Walmart’s announce- individuals have tried to shooting at a high school in
ment. make a statement by car- Parkland, Florida, that killed
“It is shameful to see rying weapons into its stores 17 people.
Walmart succumb to the just to frighten workers and In 2015, Walmart stopped
pressure of the anti-gun customers. But there are selling semi-automatic
elites. Lines at Walmart will well-intentioned customers weapons like the AR-15
soon be replaced by lines acting lawfully who have style rifle, the type used
at other retailers who are also inadvertently caused in the Dayton shooting.
more supportive of Amer- a store to be evacuated The retailer also doesn’t
ica’s fundamental free- and local law enforcement sell large-capacity maga-
doms,” it said. to be called to respond. zines. Dick’s Sporting Good
The nation’s largest retailer Walmart and Kroger joins stopped selling assault-style
has been facing increas- a string of other retailers weapons in 2018.q