Walmart asks customers to stop carrying guns after latest scare as GOP pushes for more guns

Walmart announced new policies on Tuesday regarding the sale of some guns and ammunition in response to the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.

“It’s clear to us that the status quo is unacceptable,” said Walmart CEO Doug McMillion in a letter to the store’s associates.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Walmart was pressured to cease firearms sales. They instead removed advertising for violent video games and have now announced some tepid gun violence solutions.

Now, the company says it will stop selling short-barrel rifle ammunition and handgun ammunition after its current supply is depleted, and it said it would no longer sell handguns in Alaska, the last state where it carries them.

McMillion also said Walmart’s market share for ammunition sales would go “from around 20% to a range of approximate 6 to 9%.”

Walmart is also “respectfully” requesting that customers “no longer openly carry firearms into our stores or Sam’s Clubs in states where ‘open carry’ is permitted.” However, they said they would not change their practice regarding people bringing weapons into the store under “concealed carry” laws.

The policy announcement follows a weekend in which Walmart was again the site of gun incidents.

On Monday, a man was arrested after threatening employees and customers at a Walmart in Tyler, Texas.

“According to police, the employee went to get a store manager when [Trumaine] Washington took out a handgun from his backpack, placed a loaded magazine in the gun, and racked the chamber. Police say Washington then started yelling that he was going to shoot and start killing people,” reported KLTV television station.

A man was also shot at a Walmart in Hobart, Indiana, on Sunday after two men engaged in an argument with each other inside the store.

While Walmart was dealing with the fallout from the mass shooting and other incidents, Republicans in Texas were witnessing the fruit of their efforts to loosen gun laws.

On September 1, laws passed by the GOP-dominated legislature of Texas and approved by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott became effective.

Texas school districts can no longer prohibit gun owners from storing their weapons in a locked vehicle in a school parking lot. Gun owners can now carry their weapons into houses of worship. Rental properties cannot prohibit residents from keeping firearms on their property. Gun owners can “conceal carry” without a license during a natural disaster evacuation. Foster homes can store guns in a “secure” location.

Republican elected officials, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have refused to hold votes on popular gun safety measures.

Corporate maneuvering, as reluctant as it may be, is already doing far more to reduce the number of guns in dangerous situations than Republican leaders.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.