Walmart hypocritically helps with gun turn-in by offering gift cards that can be used to buy guns

Back in early August, a Walmart store offered a grant of gift cards to the local police force, in Sumter, South Carolina.

Gun buy-back programs remove thousands of guns from homes each year that are in dangerously bad working order or are from homes where they are likely to be misused or stolen and are unneeded, keeping the guns out of the hands of children or criminals.

From an article:

"We've been considering doing this for quite some time, but we wanted to be able to provide something of value for the guns," said Sumter Police Chief Russell Roark. 

Officers found their incentive in the form of a pre-loaded gift card. The police department received a grant from Walmart and redeemed it for gift cards in several different amounts, which will be handed out in exchange for different types of weapons. 

Someone turning in a handgun will receive a $50 Walmart gift card. A long gun can be traded in for a $25 Walmart gift card, and an assault weapon will get you a gift card worth $100 (while supplies last).

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/08/04/2899569/sumter-police-department-offers.html#storylink=cpy

The gun turn-in was held at local churches.

Guns for sale at Sumter Walmart (source)

This is a generous and unexpected offer from Walmart, who is the world's leading retail seller for guns.

Unfortunately, there's nothing to stop those who drop off their guns for gift cards then turning around, entering the Walmart store, and using them to purchase more guns and ammo.  So it's basically an empty gesture to make Walmart look good despite their heavily-tarnished image for gun crimes.

Thanks anyway, Walmart.

It should be pointed out that there have been seven gun crimes and shootings at Walmart stores in South Carolina since fall of 2012.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Conceal carry permit holder arrested for failing to show permit to officer at Iowa Walmart

Occurred August 28, 2013.


An officer in uniform, working as off-duty security at a Des Moines, Iowa, Walmart store, saw 23-year old Dennis Scott Estell with a handgun in a holster.  The officer asked for Estell to show his permit, as provided by Iowa law, but Estell repeatedly refused.  The officer then arrested Estell, who was charged with a misdemeanor and had his gun confiscated.

From an article:

A Des Moines police officer working off-duty, but in full uniform, saw Dennis Scott Estell, 23, walk into the store with a handgun in a holster on his belt, police reports show. 

The officer asked Estell if he had a permit for the weapon and Estell said he did, officials said.
But when the officer asked to see the permit, Estell reportedly refused, saying, “No, it’s my right to carry this and I don’t have to show you my permit.” 

Iowa law requires anyone carrying a revolver or pistol to carry a permit and produce it at the request of a police officer. Failing to produce the permit is a simple misdemeanor. 

Estell refused the officer’s second request to see the permit and the officer placed him under arrest and confiscated the gun. 

Estell was charged with carrying weapons and interference with official acts. He remains in the Polk County Jail on a $2,300 bond.

According to another article:

The officer took Estell into custody and seized the gun, which had a round in the chamber and a loaded magazine. ... 

The police report shows Estell does have a permit to carry, issued out of Madison County. 

According to Iowa Code 724.5, “A person armed with a revolver, pistol, or pocket billy concealed upon the person shall have in the person’s immediate possession the permit provided for in section 724.4, subsection 4, paragraph “i”, and shall produce the permit for inspection at the request of a peace officer.  Failure to so produce a permit is a simple misdemeanor.”

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Man shot and wounded in Missouri Walmart parking lot

Occurred August 31, 2013.


A fight in a Walmart parking lot in Kirksville, Missouri, turned violent when one man, Brandon Sizemore, 22, pulled out a gun and shot another man in the stomach and hand.

Sizemore was arrested, and the victim is now in stable condition.

From an article and news video:

Brandon Sizemore, 22, of Kirksville faces first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
Police say he's the man allegedly responsible for the shooting that happened in the Kirksville Wal-Mart parking lot early Saturday morning, leaving Andrew Clark seriously injured. 

Just before 2:30 Saturday morning, police responded to the shooting where officers located Clark suffering with gunshot wounds to his hand and stomach. Clark was transported to Northeast Regional Medical Center with serious injuries. We called Northeast Regional Medical Center Sunday, and Clark's condition is now stable. 

We're told all this started with a fight and ended with the firing of gunshots 

Several hours later, Kirksville police arrested Sizemore in connection with Saturday's shooting. 

He's in the Adair County Jail on a $150,000 cash only bond.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Shoplifter shot by police at Tennessee Walmart store

Occurred August 30, 2013.

Scene of shooting at Bartlett Walmart (source)

(UPDATED -- see below)

Police responded to a report of shoplifting at a Walmart store in Bartlett, Tennessee.  When they arrived, the officer confronted the shoplifters, who then hit him with their car, injuring the officer's knee.  The officer then fired at the driver, hitting him in the arm.  The driver then ran into the Walmart store yelling that he'd been shot, leading to a lockdown of the store.

The driver and two other men who were in the car have been arrested.

From an article and news video:

Just before 3 p.m. Friday, the officer was taking an accident report near the Walmart on Highway 64, when he learned that a shoplifter had just left the Walmart. 

The shoplifter got into the vehicle. When the officer tried to stop it, the vehicle struck and injured him. 

The officer then shot at the vehicle, hitting one man in the arm. 

That man then got out of the vehicle and stumbled into the Walmart, saying, “I’ve been shot! I’ve been shot!” 

The building was locked down for a short time. 

Three people are in custody. 

Numerous police officers and other emergency response crews are still at the scene. 

The officer involved suffered a knee injury and was treated at the hospital. He was released later in the day. 

The suspect shot by the officer is stable and at the MED.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

UPDATE (9/15/13):  The officer has been cleared for the shooting.

Robbery by gunman at Texas Walmart

Occurred August 29, 2013.


A man robbed a shopper at gunpoint at a Walmart in Odessa, Texas.  He got away, but luckily no one was injured.

From an article:

According to a report from the Odessa Police Department, officers went to Wal-Mart, 4210 N. JBS Pakway, around 10 a.m. Thursday about an armed robbery. 

The report stated the victim reported to officers that a Hispanic man around six feet tall and 150 pounds wearing a white shirt and dark jeans threatened her at gunpoint and forced her to give him undetermined property. 

The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Man steals camera in Virginia Walmart after threatening to shoot clerk

Occurred August 28, 2013.

Suspect from armed robbery at Suffolk Walmart
(source)

A man went into a Walmart in Suffolk, Virginia, and picked up a camera.  As the clerk went to ring up the item, the man threatened to pull out a gun and then stole the camera.

An article with pictures of the suspect.

From another article:

About 3:30 a.m., a man went to the store in the 6200 block of College Drive and asked to look at a camera in a display case. Then, the man selected a camera he wanted, according to a police news release. 

As the clerk began to ring up the camera, the man said he had a firearm and wasn’t going to pay for it. After the encounter, the man ran out of the store.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Man kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint at Florida Walmart and Sam's Club

Occurred August 26, 2013.

Scene of kidnapping at gunpoint at Bradenton Walmart
(screenpic from video from here)

A shopper who exited a Walmart store in Bradenton, Florida, was kidnapped by gunmen with assault rifles in the parking lot.  They robbed him of his car, drove him to a neighboring Sam's Club store, stripped him down to his underwear, then dumped him several miles away.

The victim is okay, except for a slight head wound from being hit, but wasn't shot.

From an article and news video:

Deputies say it happened around 11:30 last night as the victim, Marcelo Fierro, 24 of Wimauma, walked out of the Wal-Mart after shopping.  The victim says a Hispanic woman, wearing a blonde wig, pulled up in a dark colored Expedition with Texas tags asking the man for directions.  When he walked up to the car, the victim says two Hispanic men with assault rifles accosted him, stole his keys and his car, and shoved him into the Expedition.  

They then drove to the back of a Sam's Club across the street from Walmart and made the man strip to his underwear.  According to the incident report, the suspects forced the man back into the car and drove about four to five miles to the 3900 block of 26th Avenue East.    

That's when the victim says he flagged down someone driving by and called 911.  

The victim had a small knot on his head according to the incident report, seemingly from the altercation, but did not go to the hospital. 

The suspects are also suspects in an earlier robbery.

Another Walmart Shooting had occurred at a Bradenton Walmart store (the same one?) in November, 2012, involving a law enforcement shooting of a drug suspect trying to run him over.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.