The End of Firearm Sales at Wal-Mart?

From the National Rifle Association, Institute for Legislative Action:

"Wal-Mart To Create Gun Buyer Database

Friday, April 18, 2008

Recently, Wal-Mart joined New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at a gathering of Bloomberg’s anti-gun group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to announce a series of changes to the way in which Wal-Mart handles firearm transactions. At the press event, J.P. Suarez, chief compliance officer for Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said: “The costs are, we think, part of what it takes to be responsible.” Suarez also added, "This is not a signal that we're getting out of firearms."

Once these changes are up and running, firearm purchases at Wal-Mart will involve a video record of the sale, which the store will keep on file -- effectively creating a video database of gun purchasers. In addition, Wal-Mart announced that its employees will be given discretion to deny firearms purchases to anyone who has had a firearm traced by BATFE for any reason -- including those who have had a firearm stolen and later used in criminal activity.

Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President, said, “I view it as a public relations stunt that stigmatizes law-abiding firearms purchasers exercising their constitutional freedoms. I honestly think it's a corporation trying to curry favor with politicians as opposed to doing anything meaningful about stopping crime.”

If you’d like to let Wal-Mart know what you think about their new policy, please contact them by phone, at (800) 925-6278; or electronically, at http://www.walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx."-NRA-ILA


J.P. Suarez may not think this signals that Wal-Mart is getting out of firearms, but he may soon realize they are.

After stopping sales of firearms at all but 12 stores in Illinois, this may be the act that breaks the camel's back. Many hunters have expressed feeling overlooked by the retail giant, our local store didn't have any loads for turkey hunters this spring. Our local store had a hand full of calls, some box call chalk, and a turkey target for patterning a shotgun...that's it. Hunters went to the store looking for the necessary gear and shells for the spring season and were disappointed with the slim to nothing choices. Last fall they dropped archery on October 1, and now they seem to not care about selling items for turkey hunting. I know not all the Wal-Mart stores were without turkey hunting supplies, but we are in the middle of turkey country here!

I understand stores have to make a profit, it is a business after all. But, if they turn customers away by not having what they want the customer will start looking elsewhere for all their hunting supplies.

Now, add this to telling a customer that they have to submit to archived video recording of all firearm transactions and you are asking to stop selling all hunting supplies. Most firearm owners like their privacy and oppose a firearm purchase database, no matter who compiles and controls it.

If Wal-Mart pursues this, they will most likely become the nations smallest retailer of firearms. Maybe they should study the history of Smith and Wesson?