One of the country’s deadliest weapons will no longer be sold in one of the nation’s largest stores.
Image via Wikimedia
For some Americans, it’s strange to walk into a store and find—in the same room as kids’ princess costumes and neon dog Frisbees—assault rifles, available for sale. While gun violence groups have complained, and mass shootings have been on the rise, they’ve had little effect, until recently, when Walmart announced that they’d finally stop selling assault rifles, semi-automatic shotguns, and other high-capacity weapons often used in mass killings.
Image via Wikimedia
Walmart officials were careful to note that they were pulling weapons off their shelves for business reasons, not political ones: “We previously carried modern sporting rifles in less than a third of our stores,” Kory Lundberg, a Walmart spokesperson, told Forbes. “Our merchandising decisions are driven largely by customer demand. In our everyday course of doing business, we are continually reviewing and adjusting our product assortment to meet our customers’ needs.”
While officials may have been hesitant to talk about politics, the chain has faced enormous pressure in recent years from a diverse coalition of activists, including gun safety groups like Moms Demand Action and Trinity Church, an Episcopal Church in New York, and a Walmart stakeholder. Currently, Trinity Church is suing Walmart, although the recent decision may cause them to reconsider.
Not to worry, consumers who want to purchase assault weapons are free to buy them at other large retailers nationwide. Mass killings may not make a big difference, but money always does.
(Via: Forbes)
More on Good.is
On the eve of the election, Walmart is pulling guns and ammunition from its shelves - GOOD
Share on Facebook
