Walmart pulls firearms, ammunition from U.S. store floors as civil unrest flares

By Melissa Fares

 

FILE PHOTO: The logo of a Walmart Superstore is seen during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Rosemead, California, U.S., June 11, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walmart Inc removed firearms and ammunition from U.S. store floors this week to protect customers and employees as tensions across the country have been rising, the world's largest retailer said on Thursday.

 

The move comes days before the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 3, with many worried that the result could be contested or spark violence.

 

"We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers," a Walmart spokesman said. The company does not have a date for when it will place the guns and ammunition back on the shelves, he added.

 

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer, which sells firearms in approximately half of its more than 5,000 U.S. stores, will still sell the items upon request, it said.

 

Retailers have been on edge after raiders earlier this year smashed windows, stole merchandise and, at times, set stores ablaze in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Portland and other U.S. cities. In an another trend that has fed concern, gun sales in the United States this year have reached record highs, and more first-time buyers have purchased firearms recent months.

 

In June, Walmart pulled firearms and ammunition from some U.S. sales stores amid nationwide protests over the death of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, at the hands of police in late May.

 

Last year, the retailer stopped selling ammunition for handguns and some assault-style rifles in all its U.S. stores. It has also in the past called for a strengthening of background checks for gun buyers and action to take guns out of the hands of those who pose a risk of violence.

 

Shares of the retailer were trading roughly flat after the bell.

 

(Reporting by Melissa Fares in New York; editing by Richard Pullin and David Gregorio)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-30

 

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""We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers," a Walmart spokesman said."

 

So the firearms have been a danger to their associates and customers all this time they've been on the 'sales floor'?

Is anyone buying this? This wouldn't actually have anything to do with the past and current looting of Walmart stores would it? Naaaaaaaah, not a chance. It's due to the 'isolated civil unrest'.

Good move especially after the rasist slaughter that happened in the Texas Walmart 

Good thing Walmart wasn't around in 1776.

2 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Good thing Walmart wasn't around in 1776.

Why, is it the only place that sells?

 

Good to see some social responsibility.

28 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Good thing Walmart wasn't around in 1776.

 

Yeah, so many mass shootings back then. Just give me a minute or so to reload...

I'm pretty sure the people that know how to use weapons have already got theirs long ago. They've been expecting this IMO.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

It has also in the past called for a strengthening of background checks for gun buyers and action to take guns out of the hands of those who pose a risk of violence.

So, calling for the gangs to be disarmed then. Good move IMO.

As for background checks, criminals apparently have no problem getting weapons without them.

1 hour ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Good thing Walmart wasn't around in 1776.

 

From the OP...

 

 U.S. stores, will still sell the items upon request

27 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So, calling for the gangs to be disarmed then. Good move IMO.

As for background checks, criminals apparently have no problem getting weapons without them.

Go to any good internet search engine, type in the words "gun stolen unlocked car" and you will see why it is so easy for criminals to get weapons.

 

People too stupid to properly secure their weapons shouldn't have weapons.

Damn it , Chuck! Wherrrre's ma gun?

How are Americans supposed to defend themselves against Americans if they can't buy a gun from Walmart??? What's the country coming to? I'll bet the Proud Boys are NOT impressed!

Too late, too late....... was the cry (the chance has now passed you by)

Just imagine how safe America would be if they ALL had guns and could carry their guns ALL the time where ever they went.

 

That is the logical extension isn't it?

4 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Just imagine how safe America would be if they ALL had guns and could carry their guns ALL the time where ever they went.

 

That is the logical extension isn't it?

 

Just imagine how many dead Americans there'd be!

 

 

Imagine if you would go in Thailand to Lotus or Big-C and there would be a section with guns for everybody to buy.

That sounds absolutely crazy. But in the USA that seems to be normal. Amazing USA.

23 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

How are Americans supposed to defend themselves against Americans if they can't buy a gun from Walmart??? What's the country coming to? I'll bet the Proud Boys are NOT impressed!

It's a constitutional right don't you know - slaughtering each other that is!

Of course we have similar policies in place in the UK.

 

A lot of our supermarkets will not sell eggs or flour to teenagers at Halloween!

26 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Go to any good internet search engine, type in the words "gun stolen unlocked car" and you will see why it is so easy for criminals to get weapons.

 

People too stupid to properly secure their weapons shouldn't have weapons.

 

"gun stolen unlocked car"      27 results      8 million with no quotes

"criminals buy illegal guns"  162 results,   106 million with no quotes

 

Absolutely,  one should never leave a gun in an unlocked car or even in sight.

 

And a poster should research his point before leaving it in a public view!

.

Half hearted attempt to look socially responsible, sine they will still sell them "on request" they have only removed them from sight not from sale.

                       Proud Boys Shop At Walmart.

 

Yea!

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, NumbNut said:

 

Yeah, so many mass shootings back then. Just give me a minute or so to reload...

Mass shootings of the British.

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

 

From the OP...

 

 U.S. stores, will still sell the items upon request

Yes I gather that...I guess just hiding them from the BLM and ANTIFA looters.

13 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Yes I gather that...I guess just hiding them from the BLM and ANTIFA looters.

So you agree its a good thing.

11 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Mass shootings of the British.

One at a time, my dear Spotter, one at a time. That's the difference.

 

Loading, loading, load-ing... shoot. Repeat

 

Loading, loading, load-innggg... shoot. Repeat

 

Loading, loading, load-innnggggg... shoot.

 

A mass shooting would take a bloody fortnight back then!

 

I could go on, but I'm hoping you've got my argument now.

9 minutes ago, NumbNut said:

One at a time, my dear Spotter, one at a time. That's the difference.

 

Loading, loading, load-ing... shoot. Repeat

 

Loading, loading, load-innggg... shoot. Repeat

 

Loading, loading, load-innnggggg... shoot.

 

A mass shooting would take a bloody fortnight back then!

 

I could go on, but I'm hoping you've got my argument now.

Agree...advances in technology are great aren't they. Imagine having to take out all those Nazis and Imperial Japanese soldiers one by one.

2 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Agree...advances in technology are great aren't they.

Not for those subject to mass murder.

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Agree...advances in technology are great aren't they. Imagine having to take out all those Nazis and Imperial Japanese soldiers one by one.

You must really be scared n thailand without your gun. Hows the basement.

32 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Mass shootings of the British.

Interesting that when the same tactics as 1776 were used by the Viet Cong in their country, Americans cried foul.