List of Retailers Enacting Gun Controls Is Growing

What’s the story?

First it was Dick’s, then Walmart, and now Kroger has joined the growing list of major retailers taking matters into their own hands to enact gun controls within their businesses.

Dick’s had removed assault rifles from their inventory at their sporting goods stores following the Sandy Hook massacre, but continued to sell them at their Field & Stream stores. In their extensive statement released on their website Tuesday they committed to several gun controls across all their retail locations.

• No sales of assault rifles

• No sales of firearms to persons under the age of 21

• No sales of high capacity magazines

• Consistent with historical policy, never sell bump stocks or similar products

Walmart followed suit on Wednesday, releasing a statement outlining their position. Since 2015 they have prohibited sales of assault rifles. They also require background checks for all customers, and do not subscribe to the law that sales will be released if a background check decision is not returned within three days. But now they are expanding their rules on gun sales to restrict sales of firearms to anyone under the age of 21.

They are also removing any "items from [their] website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys."

Thursday Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the country, announced that they would cease selling firearms via their Fred Meyer’s stores to anyone under 21. Per Politico, a company representative made a statement:

"In response to the tragic events in Parkland and elsewhere, we’ve taken a hard look at our policies and procedures for firearm sales. Recent events demonstrate the need for additional action on the part of responsible gun retailers."

In addition to the changes in their own policies, Dick’s went a step further, calling on legislators to enact "common sense gun reform", including:

• Ban assault-style firearms

• Raise the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21

• Ban high capacity magazines and bump stocks

• Require universal background checks that include relevant mental health information and previous interactions with the law

• Ensure a complete universal database of those banned from buying firearms

• Close the private sale and gun show loophole that waives the necessity of background checks

What do you think?

Do you support these retailers enacting controls on gun sales within their businesses? Is this the kind of control via the market that should be how gun control happens, or do we also need legislation? What legislation, if any, do you think we need?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: Brian Ambrozy via Flickr / Creative Commons)