Walmart Will No Longer Sell Certain Ammunition or Allow Open Carry in Wake of Store Shootings

Walmart Will No Longer Sell Certain Ammunition or Allow Open Carry in Wake of Store Shootings

After shootings in El Paso, Texas and Southaven Mississippi, Walmart’s CEO says it will stop selling handguns completely and ask customers not to openly carry their firearms in stores.

In response to recent shootings at two Walmart stores that claimed over two dozen lives,the company announced Tuesdaythat it will stop selling certain kinds of ammunition and discontinue handgun sales in Alaska, signifying Walmart’s complete exit from the handgun market.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon wrote in a statement that the policy changes were a direct result of two tragedies that took place in late July and early August:the July 30 killingof two Walmart managers by a disgruntled worker in Southaven, Mississippi andthe hate-fueled mass shooting in El Paso, Texason Aug. 3 that led to 22 deaths.

“We have been focused on store safety and security,” McMillon said. “We’ve also been listening to a lot of people inside and outside our company as we think about the role we can play in helping to make the country safer. It’s clear to us that the status quo is unacceptable.”

Now, Walmart stores will no longer sell short-barrel rifle ammunition, including .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber, because they can be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons often used by mass killers. In addition, the company will no longer sell handgun ammunition nationwide or sell handguns in Alaska, the only state that Walmart continued to sell them after discontinuing handgun sales in the 1990s. McMillon wrote that the retailer will focused on the needs of hunting and sport shooting enthusiasts.

Outside of changes to Walmart’s gun and ammunition offerings, McMillon said his workers will now stop customers from openly carrying their weapons in stores. In the days and weeks after the El Paso shooting, multiple people attempted to carry their weapons into Walmart locations, includinga Missouri man who was arrestedfor walking into a Walmart wearing body armor and holding a rifle.

While McMillon said some customers acted lawfully and inadvertently caused fear and store evacuations, the company would like to put a stop to the incidents entirely.

“These incidents are concerning and we would like to avoid them, so we are respectfully requesting that customers no longer openly carry firearms into our stores or Sam’s Clubs in states where ‘open carry’ is permitted – unless they are authorized law enforcement officers,” McMillon wrote.

He added that Walmart employees will treat “law-abiding customers with respect” and have a “very non-confrontational approach” in requesting that shoppers leave their weapons behind. Signs communicating the new policy will be posted around stores in coming weeks.

Gun control advocates and several Democratic presidential candidates applauded the move alongside calls for stronger action from Congress and Republican lawmakers. The National Rifle Association called the decision “shameful” and argued it would not make Americans any safer.

In his statement, McMillon said the company’s leadership supports strengthened background checks and removing weapons from people who have been determined to pose an imminent danger through “red flag laws.”

“We do not sell military-style rifles, and we believe the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban should be debated to determine its effectiveness,” McMillon said. “As we’ve seen before, these horrific events occur and then the spotlight fades. We should not allow that to happen. Congress and the administration should act.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Allegion, Comfort Technologies Implement Mobile Credentials at the Artisan Apartment Homes in Florida

    Artisan Apartment Homes, a luxury apartment complex in Dunedin, Florida, recently transitioned from mechanical keys to electronic locks and centralized system software with support from Allegion US, a leading provider of security solutions, technology and services, and Florida-based Comfort Technologies, which specializes in deploying multifamily access control, IoT devices and software management solutions. Read Now

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.