Walmart joins the age limit idiocy

[buck460XVR]

I see a big fat lawsuit where someone will sue walmart for denying them for age discrimination and wining a big amount of money


steve

Nah...their store, their policy. What are the odds they consulted their Corporate lawyers before making this announcement? Odds are they know a tad more about the law than most internet gun forum posters.

As for losing customers......you have to look at Wally World's customer base. Soccer moms, blue hairs and the like. Ammo and gun sales in most stores are probably a very small percentage as compared to the daily sales from the candy shelves from the fat ladies on the battery powered carts. To them, this is positive advertising.

 

[gbw]

Wal-Mart is of course a fat target for law suits, and they worry about it, but I doubt they're worried about suits from indignant 18 year olds.

Wal-Mart is likely concerned about suits from the victims of an 18 yo who bought their stuff at Wal-Mart. Those folks would have actual damages and likely a very sympathetic judge and jury at trial, if it ever got that far. Not nearly worth it to them anymore.

Plus I'd speculate they now consider it responsible behavior and good PR in this environment, they're probably right. Customer loss will be negligible.

 

[Middletown]

Wal-Mart is likely concerned about suits from the victims of an 18 yo who bought their stuff at Wal-Mart.

I wonder if this isn't a large part of their thinking. I am sure Walmart corporate has a fair amount of lawyers running around and wanting to justify their existence and salaries.

When I was a kid in the sixties and early seventies I used to go to the Walmart in Jonesboro Arkansas and am sure I was buying 22lr ammo when I was 10 or 12 years old. Had a huge sporting goods section. They have certainly evolved over the years.

 

[Choctaw]

I like the idea that more people will then go to a LGS owned by someone local.

I would like to have a LGS where the staff is halfway friendly, not condescending and actually knows something about firearms. They are few and far between in my area. Until then I'll continue to buy online (not paying sales tax) and have it shipped to my FFL.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

I wonder if the 18-21 year olds are panic buying right now with stores doing this and potential legislation.........

Politicians and businessmen are counting on them having short memories, and the rest of us not caring because of the "it doesnt effect me" attitude.

 

[Danoobie]

Their incentive is purely financial. Most of their public is low information masses, who think they are doing the "right thing".

Nobody ever accused the average Wal-Mart customer of being a deep thinker.

 

[Middletown]

Their incentive is purely financial. Most of their public is low information masses, who think they are doing the "right thing".

Nobody ever accused the average Wal-Mart customer of being a deep thinker.

Hillary called me a Deplorable, you call me a shallow thinker. Somehow my remaining ego will survive the day.

I haven't gone to Walmart for ammo since Sandy Hook and they haven't had 22lr ammo on the shelves since, at least in the local store I frequent. I have supported the local LGS's with my gun purchases since even before Sandy Hook. At this point it isn't going to change my shopping at Walmart. Maybe this will change in the future.

 

[Danoobie]

My apologies, it was not my intention to offend you. IMO, Wal-Mart is doing what they think their average customer will like. That's
their intention, to appease the highest average of customers.

 

[TomJ]

Businesses inserting themselves into politics has always puzzled me, as no matter what you do, you'll offend half of your potential customer base. I own a small business related to the energy industry, which is impacted by politics due to regulatory decisions. We never takes sides when discussing these issues, as I won't lose a customer due to politics. There are national businesses who's stated policy is to obey local laws, and they leave it at that, not driving away customers. A business with any common sense would take that approach.

 

[Middletown]

My apologies, it was not my intention to offend you. IMO, Wal-Mart is doing what they think their average customer will like. That's
their intention, to appease the highest average of customers.

I wasn't offended, just my sense of humor at work. I still think the corporate lawyers are behind Walmart's policy on this. Their marketing professionals probably decided it really wouldn't matter much. When I shoot with family and friends youth I usually wind up furnishing most of the ammo anyway. They spend all their money on them evil video games and such.

 

[ATLDave]

I think a lot of people post a lot of stuff about what lawyers do and do not do in big corporations. I think almost none of those people are that kind of lawyer, and have spent little or no time actually talking with such lawyers.

 

[Middletown]

Businesses inserting themselves into politics has always puzzled me, as no matter what you do, you'll offend half of your potential customer base. I own a small business related to the energy industry, which is impacted by politics due to regulatory decisions. We never takes sides when discussing these issues, as I won't lose a customer due to politics. There are national businesses who's stated policy is to obey local laws, and they leave it at that, not driving away customers. A business with any common sense would take that approach.

I agree! That would have been the more reasonable position but Walmart had to throw their hat into the ring. Sam Walton was a self made man by all accounts I know of, I don't think he would have made this decision. Then he sent his kids to the best schools money can buy, they are in charge now.

 

[MagnunJoe]

Most guns owners I know would never be caught dead at Walmart. Besides the weird people there, ammo availability is hit or miss, not to mention they had a 3 box limit for 8 years. No thanks.

 

[Jenrick]

I haven't been in walmart in at least 2 years, probably closer to 5. There are better grocery stores, better auto parts stores, better general stores, etc. I don't mind doing a little driving to have better selection and maybe paying a few dollars more for it. I highly doubt this is going to cost them much business however.

-Jenrick

 

[DeadFlies]

I love Walmart. Cheap cheap cheap ammo. Federal 550 bulk packs for $19.99? Yes, please!

I’m 43 years old and I’ve never been in a Walmart that sells firearms, so this is non-news to me.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I like the idea that more people will then go to a LGS owned by someone local.

That's great if you have local gun shops to buy at. For example,in "The People's Republik" of Lawrence Kansass,(closest large town) there are no gun shops so unless you want to drive elsewhere you are sorta stuck.

 

[22-rimfire]

I don't see such a lawsuit gaining traction. Race discrimination? Yes. Discrimination against 18-20 year olds? No.

That would be my take as well. They are essentially setting their own age limit regardless of the law.

Except for those that could and had previously purchase firearms and ammunition and are now banned through no fault, without having committed any crime, for no other reason than being of a certain age. This whole thing is stupid. If I was 18 I’d be taking out loans if I had to, to buy every gun I could.

I disagree. Generally stupid to take a loan out to buy a firearm. They aren't going anywhere and people get older. You will note the age thing is for buying, not using.

 

[BigBore44]

That would be my take as well. They are essentially setting their own age limit regardless of the law.


I disagree. Generally stupid to take a loan out to buy a firearm. They aren't going anywhere and people get older. You will note the age thing is for buying, not using.

So it’s stupid for an 18 year old, to build credit and acquire firearms before they raise the age of purchase? Interesting. And yes, I’m actually well aware of the “age thing”. And if I were 18 (the legal age to purchase long guns in my state) it would seem a good way to not have to borrow or mooch a gun. I could have my own. Tell me again why that’s stupid?

 

[Bigmike79]

Yea saw that. They stopped selling ARs to be PC awhile ago. So this doesn’t surprise me.

Now that you can only buy a mini 14 at walmart and not an AR, there are no more "assault weapons" being sold at Walmart.

With It's traditional wood stock, the mini 14 would be basically useless in a mass shooting. I mean seriously, the thing doesn't even look scary.