Wal-Mart Drops Gun Sales in Some Stores

[onehandle]

This is going to piss off right-wingers like you wouldn't believe.
________________________________________________________

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has decided to stop selling guns in about a third of its U.S. stores in what it calls a marketing decision based on lack of demand in some places, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

The world's largest retailer decided last month to remove firearms from about 1,000 stores in favor of stocking other sporting goods, in line with a "Store of the Community" strategy for boosting sales by paying closer attention to local differences in demand.

"This decision is based on diminished customer relevancy and demand in these markets," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Jolanda Stewart.

Stewart declined to specify what stores were affected.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060414/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_guns_2

[Warpy]

1. I give them brownie points for not selling them here

and yes, I still get my drugs there. I've been unemployed too long to get them elsewhere.

This store is in the inner city and much of the surrounding area is pretty rough. They've never sold guns.

Good for them.

[saigon68]

2. They should have

That way the residents could defend themselves

[Warpy]

15. Honey, drive bys are the problem around here

and some popgun in a night stand won't help.

Better the local Wally World doesn't sell hardware to the local thugs. Make them go outside this area to buy it.

[saigon68]

29. I Agree in principle

Let them use the profits of their Crack Sales to fund their Robust Defense efforts

Although Walmart also sells Hack Saws so they can cut down their tools to a more operable size.

[Jack_DeLeon]

31. Are most drivebys in your area...

committed with bolt action rifles, shotguns, or .22s?

Thats all I've seen at sell at the local walmarts.

[Warpy]

32. Most with .22s

and that's why I'm glad Wally's stopped selling the damned things.

[Jack_DeLeon]

33. Well hopefully...

said gangbangers wont decided that since they cant get cheap .22 ammo they will get something more effective.

[Shakespeare]

23. Just an FYI re prescription choices....

If you have a Costco anywhere near you, their prescription prices are consistently lower than ANYWHERE else, and (this is the good part), you don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy. Might save you a buck or two, because I know they add up quickly.

[DonP]

3. No great loss for the most part

Their gun prices were actually kind of high, almost on a par with a regular gun store. K-Mart was/is a lot cheaper.

They are cheaper on some ammunition though.

This sounds like it's more of an economic decision rather than some great change in their philosophy though. They said they will still be selling guns and ammunition in stores where the customers are there for the products.

Their highest volume guns were shotguns and there isn't much of a demand for shotties in urban and suburban areas. Rural stores are another matter and I expect to see the fishing gear changed out at local stores in September for hunting equipment the way it usually is.

By the way, gun ownership and shooting sports is not a right wing issue. It might be a good idea if we all started accepting that fact and won a few elections.

[SlipperySlope]

11. BUMP!

Owning guns is a human right. We support human rights, don't we?

[Paladin]

24. The Gun Activism Movement Is Overwhelmingly Right Wing

And far right wing, at that.

Our very own DU Gun Dungeon provides ample proof of this on a daily basis. It's been taken over by a bunch of people who claim to be Democrats, but the political cant is right out of Free Republic---Republicans Good/Democrats Bad; Assault Weapons Good/Hunting Rifles Bad; Guns For Blind People; Easier Access To Machine Guns and Silencers; the NRA isn't extreme enough regarding gun rights; etc.

[DonP]

25. "Who claim to be Democrats ..."

I guess we all missed your personally approved litmus test for being an "approved, real Democrat".

Be sure to let us know what other approved positions beyond gun ownership we are allowed to hold according to your gospel. Last time I looked at the party platform it supported the second amendment.

All this time I thought it was that other party that demanded close minded, unthinking obedience. Imagine that?

Nothing like being inclusive as a party.

[Paladin]

34. Try That "Democrats Have To Be Tolerant/Inclusive" Crap......

....on a newcomer to the Gun Wars, OK? That particular tactic---turning our party's natural inclinations towards tolerance and inclusiveness against us---is undoubtedly on page 46 or therabouts in the NRA/Republican playbook; it's used over and over and over again by agenda-driven individuals to persuade Democrats to walk away from our stances on guns, abortion, gay rights, unions, etc., and to become more Republican than the Republicans are on such issues. It's as transparent as it is disgusting.

And as far as the Party's position on firearms goes, there's a big difference between its stated support of the Second Amendment, and a slavering, worshipful allegiance to the NRA and assault weapon junkies---the kind of position demanded every day down in the DU Gun Dungeon. Question the DU gun activists' loyalty to the party? You're fucking-A right I do, and I will continue to do so as long as their behavior screams out for it.....

[Virginia Dare]

4. I'm not giving them much credit here...

they say it's a marketing based decision. Maybe the reason why they're not selling them in the inner city stores is because they can't compete with the black market.

[zbdent]

7. Or, as I thought when I first saw the headline,

they just might not want to arm the "enemy" . . . the poor . . . for the upcoming results of 11/7/2006 . . .

[Virginia Dare]

9. Excellent observation...n/t

[Pavulon]

12. Jesus

the poor do not arm them selves with remington 700 hunting rifles and shotguns with 28"bbls.

[zbdent]

19. The poor will arm themselves with whatever they can get their hands on

but those will be able to take out the "adversary" at a distance . . . and with considerably less skill required than a slingshot or bow and arrows . . .

[Pavulon]

26. It takes

skill to use a high powered rifle scoped or not to shoot at a moving person.

Your average person can not just pick up a rifle and have something more than a club.

[Pavulon]

5. Walmart

Sells sporting arms. Rifles and shotgun aren't in high demand in some parts of the country.

I have not seen handguns for sale in walmart.

[SlipperySlope]

13. Handguns in WalMart

They used to stock handguns in many of their stores until 1993. Now they only stock them in Alaska.

I believe that a lot of stores still have a handgun catalog behind the counter, and they will special order for you.

[wtbymark]

6. "diminished customer relevancy"

this sounds to me like its not based on supply and demand at all. They stated that the customers views are irrelevant. Most urban areas are 'blue', I wonder how many blue state vs. red state stores no longer carry guns.
:tinfoilhat:

[Breeze54]

8. Wal-Queda ya mean!!

"The world's largest retailer decided last month to remove firearms from about 1,000 stores..."

"This decision is based on diminished customer relevancy and demand in these markets,"

"Wal-Mart, based in Bentonville, Ark., has about 1,200 discount stores and 1,900 Supercenters,
which include a full grocery section, in all 50 states.
Wal-Mart says it sells rifles and shotguns. In Alaska, it also sells handguns.

It wouldn't be stopping sales due to outside pressure would it??? :shrug:
At any rate, it's about thime they woke up!!
Baby steps, baby steps...argh!

[Virginia Dare]

10. See zbdent's comment...

I think he/she may be onto something there...

edited, because I don't know if zbdent is a he or she...sorry about that.

[SlipperySlope]

14. Don't be silly...

Walmart supports big-time the right to bear arms. There is not any significant "pressure" for them to bow to.

However, most of what Walmart sells are sporting arms (think rifles and shotguns for hunting). They simply aren't going to sell many hunting rifles in a lot of urban markets.

I think the decision makes sense.

[ImNotBuying]

16. Makes sense to me.

I don't see the local gun shop selling bags of cheetos or bicycles either. So what's the big deal? It's a market decision, not some great conspiracy.

[benEzra]

18. Exactly...

Wal-Mart doesn't sell the types of guns that appeal to those of us who don't hunt. WM caters primarily to the minority of gun owners/buyers who hunt, and that market segment is declining (witness the fact that hunting-gun-maker Winchester is going out of business), particularly in urbanized areas where urban/suburban sprawl have eliminated most people's opportunity to hunt.

Now ammunition sales may be another story, since Wal-Mart sells ammunition for handguns and nonhunting rifles as well as hunting ammunition.

[SlipperySlope]

22. Ammunition sales...

The distinction between handguns, hunting rifles, and nonhunting rifles really falls apart when you look at ammunition.

When I buy 10,000 rounds of .223, nobody knows if I am going to use it in a bolt-action remington, a semi-auto AR-15, or a registered class III.

Similarly, when I buy 2,500 rounds of .44S&W, you don't know if it is going to get shot out of a Dirty Harry revolver, or just used for plinking with a carbine.

Point is, there is no such thing as "handgun ammunition" or "assault weapon ammunition" since there is such diversity in firearms.

P.S. - I do prefer to buy ammunition in bulk. It takes up a lot of space to store, but it costs less in the long run and I would hate to ever run out.

[Pavulon]

27. Reloadong

Is great for good performance. Assuming you have the time. Your point is right on.

[Breeze54]

28. You must have missed last night's thread... take a peek!

http://www.walocaust.com/site/



http://www.walqaeda.com/

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. I still won't shop there.

[slackmaster]

20. I want to know where the firearm and ammo closeout sales will be

I've occasionally bought ammunition at Wally World. I get most of my ammunition, and firearms (see my profile if this surprises you), by mail or Internet sales now. California sales tax plus dealer markup plus state-required fee (Dealer's Record Of Sale) is a lot more expensive than shipping costs.

[BiggJawn]

21. So THAT'S where all the shotguns went!

Whew!
I was afraid something was "up", and I wasn't in on it...

[Jack_DeLeon]

30. I never buy guns at Walmart...

they dont sell the type of firearms I would be interested in buying.

I do however buy some ammunition at Walmart, and I hope they continue to sell ammunition even if they stop selling guns.