Activists On Both Sides See Walmart's And Others Policy As A "Middle Ground"

Status
Not open for further replies.
LiveLife said:
AFAIK, traditionally considered "handgun" ammunition and short rifle cartridges like .223/5.56, 7.62x39, .300 Blackout and .224 Valkyrie.

In their clarification, Walmart was not sure about 22LR (Which kinda goes against their "handgun ammunition" ban ;)) - https://freebeacon.com/issues/exclu...statement-on-ending-certain-ammunition-sales/

To me, the fact that Walmart called short rifle cartridges "short-barrel rifle ammunition" tells me either this was intentional or CEO/upper management at Walmart is grossly misinformed as two are very different in meaning.

The biggest head scratcher for me is the fact that Walmart sells 20% of ammunition and this policy change will SIGNIFICANTLY affect their bottom line, NEGATIVELY. And Walmart is publicly traded company and they must act to benefit their shareholders, not push their agenda.

They managed to piss off gun owners who will respond with boycott, continue to irritate antis because they still sell guns/ammunition and now they are willingly giving up the 20% market share of ammunition sales when competition from Amazon/Costco/Blue Apron is fierce? That's LOSE - LOSE - LOSE :eek:

If this policy change results in revenue loss, I could see CEO getting fired and replaced with new CEO who will work to benefit shareholder interest.

Somebody bumped their head at Walmart.
Click to expand...

The way I look at the No ammo sales, is that WalMart really doesn't need to sell it. I doubt it will do anything to their profits. Now if they got there ammo from China maybe.

They make BIG money on all the trash they sell from China. Look at all the Halloween and Christmas junk they sell and China doesn't even honor those Holidays. They will make up the 20% on some other garbage.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HB
Rule3 said:
The way I look at the No ammo sales, is that WalMart really doesn't need to sell it. I doubt it will do anything to their profits.
Click to expand...
We still don't know whether Walmart board was behind this policy change and what the shareholder sentiment would be.

Time will tell, especially if Walmart revenue falls due to increasing gun owner boycott and no ammunition sales.
 
They are definitely taking a political stance if they will no longer sell ammunition in the calibers of the most common firearms in the USA. Also the calibers that are fired in the largest amount and thus purchased and replenished more than others.
They essentially just gave up their ammunition sales profits. Most hunters buy very few rounds, shoot very few rounds hunting, and will not make them much money in ammunition sales.
It is the handgun shooters and tactical rifle shooters that go through volumes of ammunition target practicing. All while hunting is on its way out as a past time in the USA and smaller and smaller percents of people even go outdoors, and many rural areas become urbanized. Self defense is the firearm market, not hunting anymore.

They will know what makes them money through inventory records, and so consciously just made a political decision to eliminate their own ammunition profits because they feel strongly enough on the issue.
 
Zoogster said:
They are definitely taking a political stance ... and consciously ... made a political decision to eliminate their own ammunition profits because they feel strongly enough on the issue.
Click to expand...
Which all makes sense when you take into consideration that Walmart is partner with Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown anti-gun operation - https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/w...ts-responsible-firearms-retailer-partnership/

From Walmart policies page - https://corporate.walmart.com/policies

"Walmart is a charter member of the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership, organized by Walmart and Everytown for Gun Safety."
 
In an ideal world, stupid actions by CEO's would get them fired for reducing profitability. However, individual small investors are not in the driver's seat anymore and instead large pension funds, trusts and foundations, investment banks, etc. are the opinions that these CEOs value. In addition, the left punishes its enemies while the right has generally claimed the right for businesses to operate unhindered. Thus, businesses do not fear the right in government but instead fear the left who do not have any scruple in forcing a business to comply to their wishes. Thus, a business wanting to be left alone by the woke goes along to get along. In the long run, it is a stupid strategy because if you ever pay the Danegeld, you will never get rid of the Dane.
 
Thanks for teaching me. Long ago I almost bought Armalite 180. If I ever want military pistol I will look at Turkish AR-24. They have very good small arms industry.
 
Palolosj said:
Thanks for teaching me. Long ago I almost bought Armalite 180. If I ever want military pistol I will look at Turkish AR-24. They have very good small arms industry.
Click to expand...
There are many very good makers of firearms outside the US. I have an Argentinian concealed carry gun that works quite well. A very good friend of mine is a CZ fan with several of their guns. I'm not interested, personally, in owning current military weapons, but there are quite a few historically interesting pieces I would love to shoot and maybe own. (Depends on how they shoot for me).
 
FlSwampRat said:
One thing that's a head scratcher.... Are they quitting selling anything that will load into a handgun or just ammo that is handgun exclusive?
There's a whale of a lot of crossover ammunition, I wonder how they're going to decide which to carry and which to discontinue.
Click to expand...
Here is the response that I received from Walmart explaining their new policy. My real complaint about what they are doing is that they are lobbying the government for more gun control. I think they have the right to restrict open carry and to determine what they want to sell in their store.

From Walmart:
We’ve updated our Open Carry Policy to respectfully request that customers no longer carry firearms into our stores or Sam's Clubs in states where “open carry” is permitted – unless they are authorized law enforcement officers.

We often adjust our assortments for business needs and due to recent events, we are making necessary changes. We will continue to serve our customers with an assortment that reflects the wants and needs they come to us for every day.

We will discontinue and sell existing inventory of handgun ammunition.

We will discontinue and sell existing inventory of certain short-barrel rifle ammunition, such as the .223 caliber and 5.56mm that, while commonly used in some hunting rifles, can also be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons.

We will discontinue and sell existing inventory of handguns in Alaska, which means we will no longer sell handguns in any stores.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your concern with us. Be assured that your comments have been documented for our management to review.

Thank you for contacting Walmart where we are always happy to help.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
When I said in public I didnt mean down the street, I meant in public. That includes stores among other places.
Click to expand...

My point was that if any place was a no open carry zone and someone was entering that area with a handheld firearm, chances are real good they're a shooter and someone with a CCW would hopefully stop them.
You know, they even had town-wide no carry laws in the old west?

From the Smithsonian:
"It's October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, and Arizona is not yet a state. The O.K. Corral is quiet, and it's had an unremarkable existence for the two years it's been standing—although it's about to become famous.

Marshall Virgil Earp, having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem. Long-running tensions between the lawmen and a faction of cowboys – represented this morning by Billy Claiborne, the Clanton brothers, and the McLaury brothers – will come to a head over Tombstone's gun law.

The laws of Tombstone at the time required visitors, upon entering town to disarm, either at a hotel or a lawman's office. (Residents of many famed cattle towns, such as Dodge City, Abilene, and Deadwood, had similar restrictions.)

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gun-control-old-west-180968013/#A5udF90CxOZsG6SH.99
 
Activists On Both Sides See Walmart's And Others Policy As A "Middle Ground"
Click to expand...

This has always been my first thought on doing anything but business when involving your business.

So now you have ticked off a good number of your customers and still not appeased another large number.

Stupid, to put yourself into that position.

I went into a business awhile back that had a no handgun sign on the window. I asked the owner if he knew that the red circle/slash sign wasn’t a legal sign to prevent CHL holders from carrying legally. He told me that he knew that but the “anti’s” didn’t and everyone that took the CHL course did, his way of keeping both happy, in his mind.
 
Last edited:
Why is this being debated to death.??

Wal Mart or any other store is Private Property. They can request that no one open carry. Period. Just like a Bank or a Dr office or Hospital

If they do not want to sell ammo or guns again it is there choice. They are the digest retailer in the World, They do not need gun and ammo sales Period!

Don't shop there, its not gonna change their bottom line one cent.

I could care less as I avoid WalMart as much as possible, I dislike the place. When Sam Walton was around it was a different place. Hell in out stories no one speaks English (customers and staff) they have nothing I want or need.
We shop at Costco and Publix. I don't go to Sams it is just a big WalMart,

Gun Owners are not a Protected Class like the whole Cake Baking nonsense

If I owned a retail store and said no guns then stay out!
 
Rule3 said:
Why is this being debated to death.??
Click to expand...
Because we can? ;)

Freedom of speech? :D

The way I see it, as we approach 2020 election, history may be in the making for gun rights/2A. Forum discussions like this is our "Town Hall" and I am sure there are entities that monitor online/social media discussion/buzz to gauge public/gun owners' sentiment. :thumbup:

In fact, I am counting on it.
 
LiveLife said:
AFAIK, traditionally considered "handgun" ammunition and short rifle cartridges like .223/5.56, 7.62x39, .300 Blackout and .224 Valkyrie.
.....
The biggest head scratcher for me is the fact that Walmart sells 20% of ammunition and this policy change will SIGNIFICANTLY affect their bottom line, NEGATIVELY. And Walmart is publicly traded company and they must act to benefit their shareholders, not push their agenda.

They managed to piss off gun owners who will respond with boycott, continue to irritate antis because they still sell guns/ammunition and now they are willingly giving up the 20% market share of ammunition sales when competition from Amazon/Costco/Blue Apron is fierce? That's LOSE - LOSE - LOSE :eek:

If this policy change results in revenue loss, I could see CEO getting fired and replaced with new CEO who will work to benefit shareholder interest.
Click to expand...

Walmart has stated openly that their current 20% market share will drop to around 6-9% without the handgun and specific rifle rounds, so obviously those products make up well over half their ammunition sales. If they are right about their market share of the almost $2 billion annual US ammunition sales (per National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates), then the company is potentially giving up over $200 million in sales. That's a big number! Though when viewed against $500 billion in total annual sales in 2018 that number is probably not enough to change their earnings statement. The biggest shareholders are the Walton family (4 people plus their Foundation own 1/2 the company), and mutual fund companys (another 1/3). Having been in the finance and legal industry for over 20 years, I can assure you those folks are not upset at stepping away from the hunting/shooting businesses. Socially aware investing is a very important and growing sector of the industry and this move actually increases Walmarts standing.
 
Why is this being debated to death.??

Wal Mart or any other store is Private Property. They can request that no one open carry. Period. Just like a Bank or a Dr office or Hospital
Click to expand...

The problem is when you empower all places to ban guns, all places will ban guns.
Guns represent control, as well as liability. Lets put having a heart or compassion aside and think like a cold shark.
Any business would prefer no more liability than necessary, and unless they care about the individuals don't care if they have control even when faced with deadly threats or criminals. Attorneys will advise lowering their liability as much as possible, if that means the employees are sitting ducks so be it. You won't be sued if they die or held accountable for the actions of criminals not working for you, but you will be sued if they do something, possibly even in justified and legal self defense. So it's better for the financial bottom line if the criminal does with them whatever they wish and the employee doesn't have the means to cost you money. You can and will replace them much faster than the money you would lose in a lawsuit.
Many employers, especially the larger more impersonal ones would rather any of thier employees, particularly those they don't know who live far away, die, get raped, kidnapped, or anything else than risk one of them doing something they could get sued over and lose many times what they would ever pay that employee and so will ban all of them from having weapons while employed.
Likewise if it does not hurt sales pretty much everyone would prefer that people they do not know off the street cannot bring in deadly weapons, because that is putting power in their hands and relying on their discretion. the discretion of the random rabble you do not know. Who wants them to have a gun?
It has nothing to do with what is best for the individuals or the public.
It will not stop the guy planning to do something predatory from bringing in a weapon and they know that, which is most of the people that do something bad, so it will not actually stop most of the harm from weapons by banning weapons. But it will stop liability.
Just as businesses would prefer not to have to cater to those with disabilities, or do anything that increases cost without increasing profit.
Or as government would prefer things like search and siezure laws didn't exist, because that makes it harder for law enforcement to do their job. Or many would prefer first amendment rights didn't exist, because that lets people promote negative things and say things they would rather not hear.
Most of your rights as an individual are thorns in someone's side, and if you let them decide they would be removed.

At some point you have to determine what is the line that business gets to draw in respecting rights. If you are simplistic and say private property gets to do what they want, well you won't ever get to leave the sidewalk or street with a gun anymore.
 
Last edited:
FlSwampRat said:
My point was that if any place was a no open carry zone and someone was entering that area with a handheld firearm, chances are real good they're a shooter and someone with a CCW would hopefully stop them.
You know, they even had town-wide no carry laws in the old west?

From the Smithsonian:
"It's October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, and Arizona is not yet a state. The O.K. Corral is quiet, and it's had an unremarkable existence for the two years it's been standing—although it's about to become famous.

Marshall Virgil Earp, having deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan and his pal Doc Holliday, is having a gun control problem. Long-running tensions between the lawmen and a faction of cowboys – represented this morning by Billy Claiborne, the Clanton brothers, and the McLaury brothers – will come to a head over Tombstone's gun law.

The laws of Tombstone at the time required visitors, upon entering town to disarm, either at a hotel or a lawman's office. (Residents of many famed cattle towns, such as Dodge City, Abilene, and Deadwood, had similar restrictions.)

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gun-control-old-west-180968013/#A5udF90CxOZsG6SH.99
Click to expand...






This isn't the movie Tombstone.


I find it wrong that any business that is open to the public is then trying to tell the public how to live their daily lives.

I can understand a "club" where you pay for a membership, and certain stipulations are set in place, then the owner has certain restrictions, but then it's not open to the public.

When you open your doors wide open to whomever to come in you shouldn't be able to discriminate.
 
FlSwampRat said:
One thing that's a head scratcher.... Are they quitting selling anything that will load into a handgun or just ammo that is handgun exclusive?
There's a whale of a lot of crossover ammunition, I wonder how they're going to decide which to carry and which to discontinue.
Click to expand...
I got the impression they are going to sell ammo for the firearms they will still be selling.
 
Rule3 said:
We have NO open carry in Florida and seemed to have survived for many years. To me open carry is a big to do about nothing.
It's private business they can do what the want.

Now if we can just keep dogs out of the shopping carts at the supermarket and Mini Horses as service animals on planes!
(and I like both of those animals)
No smoking either and I am an ex long time smoker
Click to expand...
Correct.

Walmart isn’t the government, it’s not subject to Second Amendment case law, it’s at liberty to enact any gun policy it so desires, patrons are at liberty to respond as they see fit.

Walmart isn’t doing anything ‘against’ gun owners, no rights are being violated, gun owners are not being discriminated against.

It’s not incumbent upon Walmart to find ‘middle ground.’
 
LiveLife said:
Because we can? ;)

Freedom of speech? :D

The way I see it, as we approach 2020 election, history may be in the making for gun rights/2A. Forum discussions like this is our "Town Hall" and I am sure there are entities that monitor online/social media discussion/buzz to gauge public/gun owners' sentiment. :thumbup:

In fact, I am counting on it.
Click to expand...

All this from someone living in California?:) Who has had their 2nd amendment rights pretty much stripped to nothing.!!

Once again, it is a private business, they can do what they want, They do not need gun people. The end.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Speedo66
  • Locked
There Goes Ruger......
Replies
10
Views
900
Walkalong
Walkalong
hso
2022 Concealed Permit Holder Defensive Handgun Use Against Mass Shooting Compilation
Replies
2
Views
480
old lady new shooter
O
F
  • Locked
First Degree Murder--on Uncle Sam's Dime
Replies
5
Views
676
Car Knocker
C
Back
Top