Walmart to Ban Open Carry, Stop Selling Some Types of Ammo

Sep 03, 2019

By: Teresa Mull

Following its call for an assault weapons ban, Walmart has also announced it will ban open carry at its stores and will stop selling certain types of ammo.

According to Business Insider, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said in a memo to employees:

“After selling through our current inventory commitments, we will discontinue sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber that, while commonly used in some hunting rifles, can also be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons.”

The site also reports, "McMillon said the company was 'respectfully requesting' that shoppers stop openly carrying firearms into its stores because of a string of recent incidents involving gun-carrying shoppers that caused store evacuations. The policy change won't affect shoppers carrying concealed firearms."

GPM reported last month that Walmart is calling on Congress to consider introducing legislation to ban so-called "assault weapons" nationwide.

"We made our own decision about assault rifles several years ago when we removed that category from our stores, and we believe it's time for Congress to debate that issue as well," Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Walmart, said during a press conference. And we will lend our perspective and support as somebody who's been a firearms dealer for more than 20 years."

According to Business Insider, “McMillon previously said Walmart was responsible for 2% of firearm sales in the US and 20% of ammunition sales. Walmart expects its share of ammunition sales to drop to between 6 and 9% as a result of the newly announced changes. The company will continue to sell the shotguns and rifles that it carries.”

Walmart is calling on lawmakers to enact more extreme gun control laws. McMillon said:

"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. We do not sell military-style rifles, and we believe the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban should be debated to determine its effectiveness."

Poster Comment:

When I lived in Chicago in late 70s, I was making cosmetics deliveries for this woman in the old neighborhood. She had this purple fluid that would take kinks out of black's hair. I would deliver it by the gallon to beauty shops on South Side. She told me, "Don't take any checks from those people." So I collected CASH. By the time I was done, I had $500 to $800 on me. I ALWAYS carried a pistol and I stayed off the side streets.

Clearly, Wal Mart needs to suffer some from boycotts. But how many places can you get groceries now but for there?