Wal-Mart resists pressure on gun sales
The retailer has withstood similar criticism for years. Many locations have sold out of semi-automatic rifles since last week's Connecticut school shooting.
Wal-Mart (WMT), the world's largest retailer, is resisting pressure to curtail sales of semi-automatic weapons similar to the ones used in last week's massacre at a Connecticut elementary school. Freedom Group, the corporate owner of Bushmaster, the maker of the weapon used by Sandy Hook Elementary killer Adam Lanza, gets about 13% of its sales from Wal-Mart, which is probably the one of the biggest sellers of firearms and ammunition in the country.
Many Wal-Mart locations have sold out of semi-automatic rifles since the school shooting, Bloomberg reports. The company's website says several guns are out of stock in five states. Prices for gun magazines were reportedly surging on eBay (EBAY), according to the news service.
Wal-Mart sells modern sporting rifles, the term the industry uses to describe weapons similar to the M-16 used by the military, in about 1,200 locations and does not sell high-capacity magazines for these weapons, according to Bloomberg. The news service quotes spokesman David Tovar as saying, "We remain dedicated to the safe and responsible sale of firearms in areas of the country where they are sold."
Sales of guns and ammunition have surged in the days after the Dec. 14 incident as buyers worried about a crackdown by President Barack Obama, who on Wednesday asked Vice President Joe Biden to lead a task force on gun violence that will issue recommendations by next month. It seems likely that a new assault weapons ban will head to a vote in the Congress in the coming months that the political powerful gun lobby will have difficulty stopping.
Gun control advocates can't overplay their hand. Attacking Wal-Mart too aggressively for selling guns to people legally able to buy them could turn the retailer into a martyr for the Second Amendment. Customers will rally around the retailer, like people did when Chick-fil-A was attacked for its views on gay rights, and buy even more firearms and ammunition. Gun critics should ask themselves whether they prefer that people buy weapons through a multinational company which is accountable for its actions or a gun show dealer where restrictions are not as stringent.
Wal-Mart has to be careful as well. Perhaps the company believes that pressure to curtail gun sales, which includes an online petition, will die down as the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary fades from people's memories. That would be a mistake. The slaughter of 20 children and six educators is forever etched in the nation's consciousness.
--Jonathan Berr does not own shares of the listed stocks. Follow him on Twitter @jdberr.
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In the wake of a national tragedy liberals to propose gun control measures sure to infringe on our second amendment rights. This is feed to us as simply making the world a safer place. The conservatives that are so concerned about gun control and our second amendment rights had no problem with infringing on the fourth and sixth amendments with the passing of the Patriot Act in 2001 in order to make the world a safer place.
In the end we will all see our rights slowly eroding, but we allow it if the shepherds of your flock propose the changes.
The Bill of Rights was written so sentiment wouldnt play a role our rights and liberties.
They can not nor will they ever ban Guns in American Society. Face it they are here to stay. So since the Foid Card is federally issued it falls on the Federal Government to restrict who gets it. Make it mandatory to take Gun safety classes and a Psych test before getting your foid card. (Have the NRA pay for said test since they will fight against it!)
Then make any crime where a Gun is involved a federal Crime with stiffer penalties. If you do not have a gun legally and you are convicted of a crime the penalty is multiplied and parole not allowed. If the Crime involves the discharge of said illegal gun, Death penalty can be part of the sentancing. And just for $hit$ and giggles, use the firing squad made up of FOID card owners to carry out the penalty...
It is bad enough that Bad People have guns. But what I object to is the fact that people who carry out crimes with Guns are cutting deals and back on the streets using Guns again. Make the penalties higher. Bring back the Death penalty for Federal Crimes that involve guns.
I have one handgun. I use it for personal protection. I say "use it" because I have had to use it. I did not discharge it, but I did get the drop on the prick that broke into my house. He had a gun too....I will never give up my Fire Arm, but see no need for an AR or M4 because if I need more then the 17 rounds my 9MM has then I am most likely dead already.
So get off the "high Horse" about banning guns and do something about prosecuting those that use them in a crime. Put them in Jail for a long time, or Kill them...either way they do not belong on the street. Period!!!!!!
That Prick that broke into my house, out in 5 years and shot somebody 2 years after that....he is eligible for parole in 6 more years....he should be in for life if you ask me...
Adolf Hitler said in MEIN KAMPF that it is a mistake to make propaganda many-sided, like scientific instruction, for instance. All effective propaganda must appeal to the emotions and to a very small degree to the so-called intellect, he declared. "If you're going to tell a lie, make it big and make it believable!" What he said is representative of our American, leftist media. I would think the media moguls had read MEIN KAMPF's whole chapter on propaganda!
I don't get it. I grew up w/ hunters. Most guys had a few rifles and maybe a pistol.
Why does a citizen need anything more for that for hunting or household protection? That's what the founding fathers had in mind - and is still all that's needed.
Should we citizens ever find the need to overtake our government forcefully, these ordinary weapons will be enough, and there are plenty of countries that hate the U.S. government and willing to smuggle in stronger firepower if needed.
WE can buy 1000 grenades if we want! Illegaly but we can buy them. Do you idiots not see the point thats trying to be made here. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE GUNS!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKING THEM ILLEGAL WILL CAUSE MASS MURDER BECAUSE GOOD PEOPLE WONT HAVE ONE TO SHOOT THE IDIOT THAT ILLEGALLY GOT ONE!!!!!! SAY YOU WOULDNT OWN A GUN????? LET A RAPIST BREAK INTO YOUR HOUSE, RAPE YOU, BEAT YOU AND YOU GET LUCKY THAT HE DONT KILL YOU, YOU CAN BET YOUR SWEET **** THAT YOULL BE AT THE STORE LOCKING AND LOADING WAITING ON THAT SOB TO COME BACK!!!!!!!! IF YOU DIDNT, WELL YOU MIGHT AS WELL CONDONE RAPE!!!!!!
It is all about the people that commit these horrid crimes.
Joe Biden's commission only need to know the following steps to cure the problem.
Give people a reason to walk the straight and narrow by giving them direction and help when they need it.
1. Give God back to the Country.
2. Blackout the media reporting of these crimes.
3. Allow open or concealed carry of weapons at schools.
4. Give more Federal and State funds to mental health facilities.
5. Give people with mental health issues a job and purpose to keep themselves busy.
I can't view an assault rifle as a "sporting" weapon, particularly with ammo clips that can hold enough bullets to slaughter 30 people in a matter of seconds. There's no way this proliferation of firearms can be kept out of the hands of mentally troubled people or the survivalists with itchy trigger fingers. The people running out in a panic to buy these weapons and big amounts of ammo are not, in my opinion, among our country's brighter citizens.
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