Walmart halts sales of handgun ammo, handguns, and open carry

Yes! Some measure of success....

After all the pressure, particularly after the El Paso mass shooting at their store on August 4 of this year, Walmart has finally agreed to stop selling ammo for handguns and short-barrel rifles, stopped selling handguns in all stores, including in Alaska, and no longer open carrying of guns in their stores.

From the article:

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, [CEO Doug] 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. ....

Surprisingly, he also called on legislative changes:

In addition, McMillon said that he would send letters to the White House and congressional leaders that "call for action" on "common sense" gun safety measures. McMillon said Congress should debate re-authorizing the assault weapons ban and expand background checks.
"We encourage our nation's leaders to move forward and strengthen background checks and to remove weapons from those who have been determined to pose an imminent danger," he said. "Congress and the administration should act. Given our decades of experience selling firearms, we are also offering to serve as a resource in the national debate on responsible gun sales."

However, they still sell hunting rifles and ammo and still allow carrying of concealed firearms by customers. Keep up the pressure!

Walmart. Save money. Die faster.

Walmart halts sale of assault rifles and sniper rifles!

After years of pressure by gun violence prevention groups and victims, not to mention increases in at least the last three years, Walmart has announced that it is discontinuing sales of assault rifles and sniper rifles in its stores.  This is a tremendous success for common sense!

gun crimes and shootings at its stores for

Up until this, Walmart had sold five different models of assault rifles.  Some of these have been used in shootings on Walmart property or have been stolen from the store counters.

Walmart continues to sell shotguns, hunting rifles, and ammunition, as well as realistic-looking airguns, and they still allow people to carry concealed handguns in their stores.

From an article:

The world’s largest retailer will stop stocking AR-15s and other modern sporting rifles (MSRs) as it resets its stores with fall merchandise, a Walmart spokesman confirmed to Quartz on Wednesday. The company will replace the rifles (carried in less than a third of its stores) with shotguns and other hunting weapons.

The move comes in the midst of a national gun debate fueled by high-profile shootings involving the weapon, including Adam Lanza in the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, James Holmes in the Colorado theater shooting, and the Los Angeles Airport shooting where a Transportation Security Administration officer was shot and killed.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation says modern sporting rifles are among the most popular firearms being sold in America.

Walmart claims the move was a "business decision" and not due to pressure, but assault rifles continue to be a hot commodity with the gun guys, so I think we all know what the truth is here.  There has been a lot of outcry, including petitions like HERE and HERE.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.


Addendum (8/28/15):  A statement of support from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

Felons steal ammunition from Louisiana Walmart and use it to shoot a cop

Occurred January 21, 2015.


Two men and a woman entered a Walmart store in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, and stole ammunition.

Deputies responded, and when they pulled over the car with the suspects, one of the men, 27-year-old Chadwick Schwender, bailed out of the car and started shooting with a "high powered rifle" (most likely an assault rifle), hitting the squad car and striking one of the deputies in the hand.

All three were arrested after they tried to get away.  All three were felons.

From an article and news video:

At around 3 p.m. Deputy Atkins conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle that was occupied by two men and a woman who stole ammunition from Wal-Mart in Donaldsonville earlier in the day on Tuesday.

When Deputy Atkins stopped the vehicle, the passenger of the vehicle opened fire on him.

According to Chief Bacala, three rounds were fired toward Deputy Atkins. One hitting his sheriff's office cruiser, and another struck Deputy Atkins in the hand. Deputy Atkins ran to at a nearby house where the resident called 911.

Deputy Atkins was rushed to a local hospital where he was released on Wednesday, January 21 and is expected to make a full recovery.

The two accomplices, a man and a woman, were arrested shortly after the shooting after trying to drive away, but crashing their vehicle. They were later identified as 27-year-old Jennifer McGhee and 27-year-old Chadwick Schwender. They attempted to break into a house by kicking in the door and forcing the homeowner to give up the keys to the vehicle. Deputies recovered the stolen vehicle in a ditch and McGhee and Schwender were arrested on scene.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Accidental gun discharge in Missouri Walmart

Occurred January 21, 2015.


An "accidental discharge" of a gun occurred at a Walmart store in Osage Beach, Missouri.

No details have been revealed.

From an article:

Osage Beach police believe there was an "accidental discharge" of a firearm in Walmart Tuesday evening. According to a spokeswoman, the Walmart corporate office is working alongside Osage Beach police to further review surveillance footage and there is no cause for alarm.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Gunman robs, kidnaps, and carjacks shopper at Florida Walmart store

Occurred January 21, 2015.


A woman had just gotten back to her car with her groceries, at a Walmart store in Lynn Haven, Florida, when a man pulled out a gun and robbed her.  He then kidnapped her in her own car, forced her to withdraw money at a local bank, then brought her back to the Walmart before fleeing.

He has since been arrested.

From an article and news video:

Authorities say numerous callers identified the man as 56-year-old Timothy Keller.
Keller is facing armed robbery, armed carjacking and kidnapping charges.
--------------------
Lynn Haven Police are searching for a suspect in an armed robbery.

It happened around noon Tuesday in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Lynn Haven.

Police say a female victim was putting groceries in her car when the suspect demanded cash and robbed her at gunpoint.

The suspect forced the victim to drive to a bank and withdraw more money. He drove her back to the Wal-Mart, where police say he may have gotten into an older model red truck, with unknown plates.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Man injured in shooting at Missouri Walmart store

Occurred January 19, 2015.

Scene of shooting at St. Joseph Walmart (source)

Two men got into an argument in the parking lot of a Walmart store in St. Joseph, Missouri, when one of them pulled out a gun and shot the other, then fled.

From an article:

“Apparently, two white males got into an altercation here by the north doors and one of them did fire a weapon at another one,” Capt. Richard Eaton said. The victim was struck in the upper torso and was transported to Mosaic Life Care by a personal vehicle. Police didn’t know if the injuries were life-threatening, but Mr. Eaton said the injuries appeared to be serious.

According to another article and news video, a 56-year old man was arrested for the shooting, and the victim is a 29-year old man shot in the torso.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.

Man shot to death at New Mexico Walmart store

Occurred January 19, 2015.

Scene of fatal shooting at Albuquerque Walmart (source)

21-year old Angelo Martinez was leaving a Walmart store in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when he met a group of people entering the store.  An argument broke out between the groups, then someone in the group pulled out a gun and fired shots, hitting several cars in the parking lot and hitting Martinez.  Martinez later died from the wounds.

From an article:

Police say the 21-year-old was gunned down around 9 p.m. in a busy Walmart parking lot near Coors and Interstate 40 on Sunday. He died at the hospital.

Police were called to the Walmart at 2550 Coors NW after receiving calls about a fight.

While they were en route, callers reported that shots were fired and someone was hit.

Police haven’t said if the shooting happened inside or outside the store, but the victim’s father, Melvin Martinez, said witnesses told him the fight was in the doorway of the store. Angelo Martinez was walking in while another group was walking out and words were exchanged, Melvin Martinez said. The other group knocked off Angelo Martinez’s hat, then punches were thrown and someone shot him.

Melvin Martinez said the witnesses he talked to didn’t know if the two groups knew each other or if it was a random interaction. ....

There was still blood on the Walmart parking lot’s asphalt Monday morning and employees had blocked four parking spots with caution tape while they tried to get it cleaned up. A Walmart employee said two people came into the store Monday because their cars had been hit by bullets and they were trying to get reimbursed for the damage.

Albuquerque Police Department spokesman Tanner Tixier said nobody in the parking lot or store had a description of the suspect to give to police.

Walmart.  Save money.  Die faster.