Walmart Faces Pressure to Stop Selling Guns, Ammunition After Mass Shootings
Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said America's largest retailer doesn't plan on changing gun sale policy after El Paso, Dayton shootings
By Brendan Brightman ••
Lydia Ko, Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Maria Verchenova , Shanshan Feng offer their initial impressions of the Olympic golf course.
Despite mounting pressure calling on Walmart to stop selling firearms in the wake of recent mass shootings, two of which happened at their stores, the retail giant said it had no plans to change its gun sale policy.
The first of two weekend mass shootings that killed 31 people unfolded at a Walmart store in the border city of El Paso, Texas. The attack came days after an employee shot and killed two other workers at a Walmart in Southaven, Mississippi.
“All I can tell you is there has been no changes right now… our big focus is supporting our associates and customers and the El Paso community," Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said after Saturday's shooting.
People gather at a makeshift memorial for the victims of Saturday's mass shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019.
Andres Leighton/AP
Three-year-old Andrew Malagon observes a makeshift memorial for the victims of Saturday's mass shooting at a shopping complex in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019.
Andres Leighton/AP
Children of a youth sports community participate in a vigil for the victims of Saturday's mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019.
A woman places flowers beside a makeshift memorial outside the Walmart (background) where a shooting left 21 people dead in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 4, 2019.
Cynthia Chavez, right, embraces her daughter Mia Chavez as they visit a makeshift memorial at the scene of a mass shooting at a shopping complex Sunday, Aug. 4, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.
Alfredo Angcana prays beside a makeshift memorial outside the Cielo Vista Mall Wal-Mart where a shooting left 21 people dead in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 4, 2019.
Jessica (L) and Kalani Windham leave flowers and a candle outside Walmart, near the scene of a mass shooting which left at least 21 people dead, on Aug. 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
A sign is posted near the scene of a mass shooting which left at least 21 people dead on August 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody in the city which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border. At least 26 people were wounded.
People wait in line to donate blood at a Vitalant donation center the day after a mass shooting which left at least 21 people dead on August 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso community was encouraged yesterday to donate blood for victims of the attacks. A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody in the city which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border. At least 26 people were wounded.
People donate blood at a Vitalant donation center the day after a mass shooting which left at least 20 people dead on August 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. The El Paso community was encouraged yesterday to donate blood for victims of the attacks. A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody in the city which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border. At least 26 people were wounded.
People wait their turn to donate blood at a Vitalant donation center the day after a mass shooting which left at least 21 people dead on August 4, 2019 in El Paso, Texas.
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Members of the Arenas family, who are from El Paso and came to pray for victims, embrace outside Walmart near the scene of a mass shooting which left at least 20 people dead on August 3, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. A 21-year-old male suspect was taken into custody in the city which sits along the U.S.-Mexico border. At least 26 people were wounded.
People hold hands during a vigil for victims at St Pius X Church, after a mass shooting which left at least 20 people dead, on August 3, 2019 in El Paso, Texas.
People hold their mobile phones with flash on during a vigil in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, on August 03, 2019, after a mass shooting which left 20 people dead in El Paso, Texas.
A child takes part in a vigil in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, on August 03, 2019, after a mass shooting which left 20 people dead on in El Paso, Texas.
El Paso residents stand outside after a vigil ceremony at Saint Pius X Church, following a deadly mass shooting, in El Paso, Texas, August 3, 2019.
Residents carry supplies for victims outside a reunification center at MacArthur Elementary School, following a deadly mass shooting, in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.
Residents Erica Rios, 36, and Alma Rios, 61, cry outside a reunification center at MacArthur Elementary School, following a deadly mass shooting, in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.
Joel Angel Juarez/AFP/Getty Images
(From L) El Paso Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, Fire Chief Mario D' Agostino, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Mayor Dee Margo and Police Chief Greg Allen speak during a press briefing, following a mass fatal shooting, at the El Paso Regional Communications Center in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.
Law enforcement agents respond to an active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.
El Paso Police Department Sgt. Robert Gomez briefs media on a shooting that occurred at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.
People evacuate from the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 3, 2019. Multiple people died when a gunman opened fire at the mall, according to El Paso police.
Law enforcement agencies respond to an active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.
Customs and Border Patrol police walk past people evacuated from Cielo Vista Mall and a Wal-Mart where a shooting occurred in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.
Law enforcement agencies cover the exits of a Wal-Mart where a shooting occurred near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.
Law enforcement agencies respond to an active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, Aug. 3, 2019.
Authorities say the shooting happened at the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday afternoon.
Law enforcement agencies respond to an active shooter at a Wal-Mart near Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019.
People evacuate the Cielo Vista mall on Aug. 3, 2019, in El Paso, Texas, following reports of a shooting. People are asking people to stay away from the mall area.
Armed policemen gather next to an FBI armored vehicle next to the Cielo Vista Mall in response to an active shooting inside the mall in El Paso on Aug. 3, 2019.
Hargrove told NBC News that Walmart has taken steps to scale back on gun sales.
The nation's largest retailer stopped selling assault-style rifles in 2015 and in 2018 it raised the minimum age for both firearm and ammunition purchases to 21 in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people.
"On our website, we stopped the sales of assault-type rifles, including toys that would resemble those items. We don’t sell handguns, except for in Alaska, and we do certainly do things that go beyond federal law," Hargrove said. "One example of that is we require individuals to pass a background check before they purchase firearms."
Still, around half of Walmart's 4,700 stores across the U.S. do sell guns and ammunition. Hargrove told NBC News that the El Paso store did not sell guns, but did sell ammunition.
Over the weekend, many who took to social media to respond to the shootings also called on Walmart to stop selling guns, using the hashtags #guncontrolnow and #boycottwalmart.
Hey, @Walmart! This would be a great opportunity for you to take a true leadership position and stop selling guns. https://t.co/JcQ6BvTbUe
Some gun control advocates are urging the retail giant to go even further, noting that ammunition purchased at Walmart stores have been linked to several mass shootings, including the 2016 Pulse night club shooting in Orlando, Florida, in which 49 people were killed, according to NBC News.
Igor Volsky, founder of the gun control advocacy group Guns Down America, launched an online petition calling on Walmart to cease the sale of firearms. Volsky said in an interview Monday on MSNBC's "Velshoi and Ruhle" that Walmart can set an example by announcing it would halt the sale of guns "until we raise the standards of gun ownership in America."
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The petition also calls on Walmart to pledge it will no longer make contributions to lawmakers who take money from the National Rifle Association and fund gun buyback programs.
A crowd that gathered to remember nine people shot dead outside a Dayton, Ohio, bar interrupted a speech by Gov. Mike DeWine with screams of "do something." Twenty-seven people were also injured in the mass shooting.
Hargrove confirmed to The Associated Press that the El Paso store shooting was the deadliest in the company's history. And while no workers were killed, two were wounded and are recovering from injuries. Hargrove said Walmart doesn't plan on changing its security policies or arm store employees in response to the shooting.
He said all associates at the border store received mandatory active shooter training and were prepared. This summer, Walmart also introduced virtual technology in its active shooter training, though Hargrove could not confirm if any of the employees in El Paso had received it, NBC News reported.
"Unfortunately you can never predict violence," said Hargrove. "That’s why we take training and preparation so seriously."
Jimmy Fallon shares his thoughts, and offers suggestions for how people can help, in the wake of mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.
Danielle Abreu and NBC News' Mary Pflum contributed to this report.
