@abasket
Some would not support any type of gun control, some would only support background checks and restrictions on fully automatic weapons. I don’t think any would support the decision to cease sales of handguns, ammo, or anything of that sort. I’m not sure about the open carry, some would have a problem with that, but I think maybe concealed carry might be better anyway and there’s a good chance that some would agree with that. If they try to prohibit legal carry in all forms that would definitely be a no go.
I applaud Walmart and Dicks, and both will get my business.
I’m going to be with some Walmart lawyers in a month or so at a meeting. I’m interested to hear what they say about this. I don’t think you would be seeing this move if the El Paso attack had not happened IN a Walmart.
The gun control proposal that has very high support is background checks for all gun buyers (including at gun shows and private sales). Level of support was recently 90% overall, including 92% of Democrats, 89% of Republicans, and 93% of gun owners. See question 35 on page 21 of https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-august-14 .
Walmart accounts for 20% of ammo sales nationwide prior to this policy change.
I’m just not convinced this is that great of a move. Yes- makes Walmart look good, but it’s not going to slow down anyone hell bent on shooting up a place.
But for Walmart, it won’t be tied to them. They can say they aren’t contributing to it. What’s bad for them about that? They don’t need to be in the ammo business given the downsides that come with it when they can make profits elsewhere. It also pushes an agenda. Again, not a bad place to be IMO when you look at the polls of public opinion.
I thought of this thread when I started seeing some friends on facebook share this news story. First one that I saw shared it and said “I hope this decision hurts you”, the comments on his post included: Liberal logic…insanity!!, Screw Walmart!, I guess they’ll quit selling beer and wine to stop drunk driving deaths too!, Boycott, Hope it helps the local gun store owner, I guess I’ll need to find a new place to buy groceries! NRA all the way!, I’m done with Walmart.
I realize this is not the prevalent viewpoint here on CC, just giving a look at what the other side thinks. Oh, in case anyone is thinking that it’s just a bunch of uneducated rednecks, many of these people have graduate degrees. My friend list includes doctors, lawyers, teachers, college professors, engineers, law enforcement, ex-military, chaplains, and of course some blue collar workers as well.
Some of us hope that this action by America’s largest retailer, as well as the actions of Kroger and NASCAR, may begin a cultural shift in our acceptance of gun violence.
I’m sure Walmart knows what people on various sides think and no doubt factored it into their decision. They did it anyway.
Out of curiosity, @heartofdixie, do your friends own military style semi-automatic weapons or handguns which are affected by the ammunition sales?
Docchicos- what I meant was that I’m not convinced that the move will do anything to change the gun incidents. I get why Walmart did it. @HeartofDixie I completely agree with you. In my world, it is very educated and competent people (including myself) who do not embrace large parts of the progressive agenda. That said, I am not a gun person and hate these horrible incidents as much as anyone.
@roycroftmom speaking for myself and those I know - we do have handguns and I know one person with a semi automatic. None of us are affected by the policy because we don’t buy it at Walmart. Also - none of us are talking about boycotting because Walmart still sells plenty of other things we need. I just fail to see how it curbs gun violence. More attention should be paid to mental health - well adjusted and sane people do not misuse guns or ammo. I’m all for a national background check for gun owners and tightening the loopholes of buying guns without screening at gun shows, etc. I’m pro 2A and have absolutely no issue with doing that and also having a national gun policy instead of state by state policy. There are lots of ways to address gun violence but what Walmart did will not address the root causes.
Corporations have limited ability to affect policy change. Wal-Mart is doing what it can to limit the amount of ammunition on the streets, and no longer sells handguns or semiautomatic weapons, or any gun to those under 21. It is quite likely that in doing so, many deaths have been prevented. That is more than Congress has done.
Yes, some of my friends do own semi-automatic weapons.
The handguns issue is more concerning though, because most people I know own handguns for protection. I have heard the argument that no one wants to take away everyone’s guns, despite the fact that there have been those who have openly said that they wish to do just that. It is more likely to happen gradually(like many other changes in the last few years), it made sense that normal people didn’t need fully automatic weapons, then it moved to semi-automatic weapons, now you have retailers no longer selling handguns followed by handgun ammunition.
It’s a shift similar to cigarette advertising. If you make it unacceptable enough, even if it’s still legal, many fewer people will do it.
I wasn’t aware that gun violence was considered acceptable by most people, the people I know don’t consider it acceptable.
More than 150 died in mass shootings in August, but there has been no government action as a result, so yes, I would say gun violence is acceptable. If it were not, we would do more to stop it.
I don’t think that means it is acceptable, just that there is no consensus as to how to stop it.
Of course it’s not acceptable. That’s absurd. The problem is finding a way to stop it- and the use of violence through other types of means to cause mass harm (or ANY harm, for that matter).