Attention Wal-Mart shoppers, AR-15s will no longer be sold in our stores, but we want to make sure that this wasn’t motivated by politics (via the Hill):
Wal-Mart announced Wednesday that its stores will no longer carry the AR-15 and other semi-automatic sporting rifles because they do not sell very well, according to The Associated Press.“It’s based on what customers are looking for and what they were buying when they come into Wal-Mart,” spokesman Kory Lundberg said. “It’s very similar to what we do with other products. If there’s not customer demand there, we’ll phase out.”
The publication added that the retail giant would focus more on hunting rifles and shotguns for the foreseeable future, and that we shouldn't look too much into the timing of this announcement.
In 2012, after the horrific Newtown shooting, Dick’s Sporting Goods made the irrational decision to suspend the sale of AR-15 rifles:
We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and to the entire community.Out of respect for the victims and their families, during this time of national mourning we have removed all guns from sale and from display in our store nearest to Newtown and suspended the sale of modern sporting rifles in all of our stores chainwide.
We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by this terrible tragedy.
Forbes reported in August of 2013 that Dick’s came into the cross hairs of the national media since there were rumors that Adam Lanza, the perpetrator of the Sandy Hook shooting, tried to buy a rifle at a Dick’s store in Danbury, Connecticut; it was actually from a shady dealer that has since lost its federal firearms license. Yet, the publication added that sales of AR-15s are being sold at its offshoot store, Field & Stream.
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