Walmart’s Decision to Ban Gun, Ammo Sales to Young Adults is Not Surprising At All

Authors Columns S.H. Blannelberry
Walmart's Decision to Ban Gun, Ammo Sales to Young Adults is Not Surprising At All

Walmart announced that it will no longer sell firearms or ammo to persons under the age of 21. (Photo: Twitter)

You shouldn’t be shocked to learn that Walmart announced this week it would stop selling guns and ammo to adults ages 18, 19, and 20.  The multinational corporation with a half a trillion in annual net sales has a history of being a fairweather supporter of the Second Amendment.  More on that in a moment.  But first the statement on what led Wally World to discriminate against young adults.

“In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales,” said the Arkansas-based company in a statement.

“Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age,” it continued. “We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change.”

My take is good for Walmart. It’s a free country. Businesses can do whatever they like. For example, if Walmart wanted to suddenly stop selling newspapers to gays and lesbians. It could do that no problem whatsoever. Right? Oh, wait, are you saying that would be a problem? Bad example.

How ‘bout if it banned the sale of sugary sweets to fat people, like myself. Now I’m sure no one would raise a stink about that. After all, obesity kills more people than AIDs and firearms combined. Wait, you’re kidding. That, too, would cause rioting in the streets?

Fine. I got it. How ‘bout this. If Walmart prohibited old people — over 60 — from driving to their store locations. Old people can be slow and dangerous behind the wheel. I think everyone would consider that a public service. We can all agree on that. What, we can’t?

Back to being serious. Walmart has a history of being, how shall we say, not exactly a best friend to the 2A. For starters, they stopped selling guns in about two-thirds of their stores in 2006 citing waning “customer demand.”  What horrible timing.  Had they waited two more years, they would’ve been able to cash in on the Golden Age of Gun Sales spurred by President Barry Obama.

SEE ALSO: Will Walmart’s Self-Defense Policy Get an Employee Killed?

They partnered up with Michael Bloomberg in 2008 to roll out a computerized system to log all purchases as well as video record every over-the-counter sale. Sounds a little 1984-ish to me. If you bought a gun at Walmart over the past decade, “Smile, you’re on Bloomberg camera!”

In 2015, Walmart discontinued selling black rifles; once again citing “customer demand.” In other words, it wasn’t politics. It wasn’t because Walmart finally caved to pressure from anti-gun shareholders, i.e. the Trinity Church, who had demanded that the retail giant stop selling ARs. Nope. It was all about dollars and cents. And better serving the gun community. Right. Don’t believe that for a second.

Then there’s Walmart’s policy on self-defense which instructs employees to “disengage” if the suspect “brandishes or threatens to use a weapon.” The company fired several Utah employees who stopped a knife-wielding shoplifter. Those employees sued and won in court. The judges said essentially that it’s okay to instruct employees to stand down — unless withdrawing is not an option and the use of force is reasonably exercised to prevent great bodily harm. That’s common sense.

Walmart didn’t see it that way. They want their employees to disengage under every circumstance. Even if it’s to protect and defend themselves. Because encouraging employees to take action in those instances sets a “bad precedent.”

Where does this leave us and Wally World?  I guess that’s up to you.  If you believe that they are good custodians of your 2A rights, by all means, continue to shop there.  If you believe they are a soulless enterprise that puts profit over people and panders to anti-gun forces, it might be time to take your business elsewhere.  But the choice is yours.  Do with this information what you will.

***Buy a Black Rifle on GunsAmerica Today!***

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  • DJH January 1, 2021, 3:45 pm

    IMO… This will never have any real effect on Walmart’s bottom line. I would rather make any firearm purchase through my local gun store or sites like Guns America, PSA, etc and do the transfer through my local gun store. This Walmart thing is a big “to do” about nothing. Focus all your energy on wearing out your so called political leaders for not doing the job you sent them there to do. Protect the Constitution and your 2nd Amendment Rights! If I am correct, they swear an oath to that very thing when they take office. Or are they just committing fraud?

  • DJH January 1, 2021, 3:27 pm

    @”Z”… Dick’s Sporting Goods said it ended the sale of “modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15”, in 2015, and stopped selling bump stocks and high-capacity magazines. The info is free to research. No irony here.

  • Andy Truscott November 22, 2019, 10:58 am

    I no longer will shop at Walmart. Since they are openly declaring themselves a gun free soft Target. I don’t want to be there when the next criminals decide to hit an easy target. That will be on the CEO. Sad

  • Rob August 17, 2019, 5:08 pm

    Way to go Walmart….bending in again to pressures of the unintelligent and misinformed cries of the anti gun rejects. Another knock against law abiding and gun responsible Americans. Back to paying double for ammo again. Thanks again to Walmart’s brightest minds.

  • george clark jr. July 6, 2018, 6:49 am

    good enough…….i personally know no one who would purchase a firearm at wallrat. being a gun owner all my life i can only imagine the quality of the service or advice one would receive.

  • m. July 3, 2018, 9:53 am

    As a 70+ year-old, I’ll resume buying ammunition when u anti-2a d-rat d-suckers stop asking for my id

  • Mike g March 10, 2018, 8:22 pm

    You forgot to mention that Walmart discontinued selling handguns shortly after the Columbine massacre.

  • Real Ro Gal March 5, 2018, 7:29 pm

    I’ve taken Dick sporting goods off my list. Can easily find better rifles and ammo at other places. As far as Wally World goes, I go there to get essentials but who needs them for ammo or black rifles when there are better prices?

  • borg March 4, 2018, 4:38 am

    They are violating numerous state laws that bar age discrimination.

  • 1SGT PLS USA ret March 3, 2018, 7:34 am

    Dicks WHO ?
    New headlines DICKS FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
    KMart is still on my list of places to avoid because of their decision to stop arms sales. Dicks (great name) is now along side them. Stay Safe

  • c.e. thacker March 2, 2018, 8:37 pm

    Walmart execs, how about checking with Target about going against those who objected to Transgenders using any restroom of their choice. 17million spent for a 3rd bathroom after customer revolt. Be leary of what you wish for. Your customers control your sales. Not the filthy rich Waltons who spent 33m for an arts museum while paying poverty wages and forcing employees to food stamps and Medicaid.

  • e March 2, 2018, 7:07 pm

    The aging multi billionaire owners of the Walmart kingdom could careless about the normal folks. They only want to politic as usual. “YHEEESSSSS!!!! MR. Bloomberg we’ll do our Part. Just let me finish counting my daily take from the peasants.”

    • Z March 4, 2018, 10:50 am

      What’s the store name, was it Gunmart? Oh , that’s right, they sell 5000 products that have nothing to do with firearms. You make an excellent point though. I don’t see how it’s possible to stay in business when “normal people” can’t buy Daniel Defense AR Cereal and Armalite 2% Milk. How the hell are people supposed to diaper their babies without Magpul super absorbent Huggies? Damn you Gunmart! I’m sure their billions in retail sales and their burgeoning online presence are going to come crashing down any day now because they stopped selling black rifles in 2015. Yup, any day now.

      Hey what is it most people complain about when a Wal-Mart moves to their small town? Oh that’s right, it kills small business. The bait and tackle store that sold hunting rifles for example. Or maybe the hardware store that had the big buck contest every year. It sure would be a shame to see that kind of show a resurgence now that Wal-Mart isn’t going to cater to the 18-21 firearm buying crowd. Shucks, why focus on the positive when you can cry about a retail stores decision.
      As a side note, Wal-Mart doesn’t issue drivers licenses or conduct traffic enforcement. There’s no federal requirement to provide ID and no background check for buying sugary treats. Customers aren’t required to state their sexual preference to purchase anything, at any store, anywhere in America. Your nonsequiter comparisons are a miserable failure. Take some college writing courses, you snowflake hack.

  • Keith March 2, 2018, 6:41 pm

    Hope they get a class action suit for discrimination against them going real soon to cost Walmart some $$. They are discriminating against legal adults buying a legal product. Just like the bakeries making the wedding cakes not selling them to gays according to the liberals they can’t have it both ways.

  • Clint Wilde March 2, 2018, 3:04 pm

    Another comparison, over the last 6 months according to the CDC, more than 5000 people have died in traffic accidents with an alcohol impaired driver involved. Where are the protests on that, where are children questioning their representatives on whether they took lobby money from any American distillers associations? I wish they would return the voting age back to 21, or at least have a job to qualify. Don’t forget, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 during the Vietnam War do to the argument if our teenagers were fighting and dying, they ought to be able to vote. I say raise it back to 21, unless you are in the military. Seems the vast majority of youth today are too self centered and immature to vote.

  • thom235 March 2, 2018, 1:34 pm

    Pretty soon we won’t be able to buy anything if we stop shopping at all merchants who adopt ridiculous policies.

  • Ed Bernacki March 2, 2018, 1:06 pm

    Who cares if Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods require someone to be 21 to buy a gun, and will no longer sell “assault rifles”. We gun owners know that there are plenty of other sales outlets that will, namely your local gun dealer, gun shows, and the internet. Sites like GunsAmerica, and others.
    Gun owners will shop with their feet…

  • Jim March 2, 2018, 11:38 am

    67 years old, and long-time member of NRA. I will piss off a lot of people here. I think the time for allowing/justifying people under 21 be allowed to purchase firearms is long past. When I was a kid, many of us hunted, or shot targets. Our parents could not afford to buy us a gun, so we saved our money and did it ourselves. WE WERE RESPONSIBLE KIDS. Today, parents are quite able to buy guns for their kids if they think they need them. And, most kids today are not at all responsible.

    I was, and still am, against lowering the voting age to 18. Maybe one in fifty 18-year-olds know anything about politics. They shouldn’t be voting, and they shouldn’t be buying guns. I would make an exception for anyone who is in the military (buying guns and voting). By joining, they have shown a level of responsibility not exhibited by their peers.

    • Dennis M March 3, 2018, 12:21 am

      Amen. If they are old enough to die for our country then they should be able buy a gun and vote.

      • Michael E. Hensley March 7, 2018, 11:10 am

        I agree with your statement up too a point but as Jim stated the Parents are the problem and with Military Service usually that trains a young person to be Responsible. I know as a 18 year old I got to fight a War in Vietnam and if something like this does not make you grow up Nothing Will. Most 18-20 years olds I know have been spoiled and never been told NO, That has to happen to prove that you can accept Responsibility

  • JoshO March 2, 2018, 10:58 am

    As these dumb kids get older they’re just going to have to keep adjusting the age up. Some day you’ll have to be 50 to buy ammo at Wally lol.

  • Dexter Winslett March 2, 2018, 10:51 am

    Stop spending money at Walmart and they will stop being stupid.

  • Bob March 2, 2018, 10:48 am

    Yeah; but where are we going to shop when WalMart stops selling to straight/CHRISTan folks/us?

    • Z March 4, 2018, 10:57 am

      I don’t know, I didn’t realize you were required to show a religious affiliation identification to shop at a for profit retail store that doesn’t require a membership. I guess if they require you to prove your sexual orientation you could offer a resume of disappointed ex girlfriends or perhaps your wife can vouch for her lack of satisfaction.

  • johne March 2, 2018, 10:42 am

    I guess young adults could file an age discrimination suit.

    • e March 2, 2018, 6:53 pm

      They will! Not because they believe but for their own 15 minutes and the lawyers cashing in.They should have a class action brought on by the entire industry.

      • Z March 4, 2018, 11:00 am

        Age discrimination doesn’t apply to restricting sales at a for-profit retail establishment for a particular item. If it did, there wouldn’t be any bars in town that we’re restricted to 21 and up.

        • Mr.Liberty April 10, 2018, 3:27 pm

          Purchasing/drinking alcohol is not a Constitutionally protected right like the right to keep and bear arms. Perhaps you should educate yourself on Constitutionally guaranteed rights before parroting whatever leftist propaganda your overlords have commanded you to recite.

  • Gem Gram March 2, 2018, 10:27 am

    I guess I do not need to by anymore Chinese made cheap stuff at Walmart. They are opposed to me and my Second Amendment rights. And just as clearly ARE anti-American. At least anti United States Constitution. They are also silly. While doing so might seem smart marketing sense, who ever came up with it should be fired. Not because it is bad for the country, but because it is bad for the business. Who the hell do they think shops at Wally World. I would bet that WalMart shoppers are a bit more conservative than the average and as such a lot probably might stop shopping there. At least this one would. Why shop at Wal-Mart when I can go to Target or Fleet Farm and get the same thing. And the same goes for Dick’s Sporting Goods. I will not shop at either now. Will they really get more liberal supporters of the Ban to shop at their stores. I do not think so, all they did was alienate a whole lot of their present customer base. If you own stock in these companies it might be wise to divest yourself of it. They have started to have some bad marketing decision making. BTW: I turned 18 years old in the Military in a war. And I would not have the same rights as a 21 year old??? 21 was the age I was when I discharged and at least for me my war was over. I was old enough to become a Disabled Veteran, but not old enough to buy Constitutionally protected items from those stores… Funny in an ironic, sick way…

    • Dennis M March 3, 2018, 12:25 am

      Thank you for your service, and you are right!

    • Andrew N. March 4, 2018, 2:21 am

      To answer your questions about more “liberal supporters shopping there”; no, they won’t. Today’s protesters are like goldfish, 3-second attention spans. They protest on Facebook or Twitter, then on to the next issue that pops up. So WalMart, Dick’s, and the rest of these companies that we boycott will feel it. Hard. Just an opinion from a fellow Vet with the same mindset.

      • Z March 4, 2018, 11:03 am

        Let’s get back together in this comments section a year from now and see if Wal-Mart and Dicks Sporting Goods profit margins go up or down. My bet is they’ll go up. Firearm sales to the 18-21 crowd don’t make up even 1% of their profit margin.

    • Z March 4, 2018, 11:14 am

      So, you’d rather lower the age to purchase firearms than increase the age to enroll in the military? Maybe the United States has gotten more than trillions of dollars in debt and thousands of dead or wounded vets out of the ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan than I thought. Buy yeah, absolutely, when soldiers return from war what they need isn’t mental health counseling, housing, jobs, or health insurance, they need an AR-15 and a voter registration. Nothing prepares young people for civilian life better than having their housing, clothing, meals, and job issued to them. It’s not like the world has gotten more complicated since 1945, right?

      • Zigfried March 8, 2018, 12:42 am

        To Z . . .
        Thank you for your condensending tripe! What you attempt as high handed sarchasm comes off more as an elitist, “educated,” attempt to puff up your falty ego. Hey, many of us actually have several college degrees also. But, thanks for the moral lecture.

        I get the distinct impression from your comments you are either a know-it-all or a cynic. Take stock of your life, young man.

      • Mike November 2, 2018, 7:04 am

        Z, it’s obvious that you have never run a business. The mindset exemplified by WalMart affects all of their endeavors. Poor service, hostility to clientele, awkward merchandising is the norm for these folks. I did enjoy their museum, though. Grandstanding and virtue framing in the midst of tragedy isn’t good for business,either. Walmart will go the way of the Dodo, C Penney and Woolco.

  • JungleCogs March 2, 2018, 9:51 am

    No big deal, never shopped there for firearms stuff anyway (not really their bag). They are just trying to get some free earned media by jumping on the Leftist bandwagon. They know their market; that’s why they likely will not go so far as to place ‘no firearms allowed’ signs at their store entrances.

  • Fred March 2, 2018, 9:36 am

    A calculated risk. Since the age group in question probably don’t buy a significant number of guns form Wal-Mart there us no impact to them there. The other outraged customers may be a significant number but usually “get over” such foolishness because it really has little long term effect on them or their lifestyle. No one really loses anything. For a brief moment in time the news media has a sensational headline. Then all is back to normal.

  • Jeffrey L. Frischkorn March 2, 2018, 9:30 am

    Yesterday afternoon I stopped at our local Dick\’s sporting goods store and requested to speak with the manager. In my hand was my Dick\’s rewards card; a little thing with a few perks. I had cut the card in half and explained to the manager why I was there, politely and gentlemanly. It\’s not like I rarely visit the store. During Ohio\’s l-o-n-g archery deer-hunting season last year I\’d stop at Dick\’s and buy two to four bags of shelled corn for my three active game feeders. The stuff comes in 40-pound sacks (easier for my arthritic body to handle), is double cleaned so there is less chance of something to clog a game feeder. Dick\’s is right on the way to two of my three hunting sites, too, and I mean within 5 to 10 minutes. That much corn cost me (roughly) $16 to $32 per week for a four-plus month-long season. I also have purchased fishing tackle, a couple of game cameras, and assorted odds and ends from the store, I also said to its manger. So we are talking about a several hundred dollar shopping bill, I mentioned as well to the manager. He took the card, was friendly and said he\’d heard from other customers both pro and con on the issue. Before I left, though, I also took note that while there were no black semi-auto rifles the shelves were still stocked with the ammunition that feeds them. You\’d have thought Dick\’s would have outlawed that material as well. And the gun rack also contained a tactical-style bolt action rifle that would just as easily scared the bejabbers out of any unknowing customer. Anyway, I thought Dick\’s was being hypocritical. Here, corporate had ordered its Dick\’s branded stores to stop selling AR-platform rifles – which it hasn\’t been doing in a couple of years anyway – as well as its Field & Stream stores. Funny but the product that Cruz did not purchase from Dick\’s anyway though the chain is keeping on its shelves the type of shotgun that Cruz DID buy at a local Dick\’s. The chain also is still selling the ammo for these \”bad\” guns and still has on its gun rack a rifle that to the uninformed really doesn\’t look less nasty than an AR rifle. And I also sent an actual stamped letter chiding the chain to the company\’s CEO. Now I do not believe for one moment that any of my actions will drive Dick\’s to its financial knees. Just about every boycott is cursed from the beginning with ineffectiveness. But I was not going to be a party to contributing to Dick\’s bottom line. Nor was I going to simply walk away and not say or do anything. I had to let Dick\’s know of my displease. Saying nothing is not my way. My actions were my own, however; a need to satisfy my own belief in the rightness of those beliefs. What other people choose to do is their concern and not mine. I have to be true to myself first. The rest of you are free to decide your own path. You will not find me condemning you whichever way you determine is best for you. That is not my style.

    • KimberproSS March 2, 2018, 9:53 am

      Good for you. I do those type things. I think it is critically important for these retailers to understand why I am not shopping there and in this case, understand why the bottom line shrunk instead of trying to figure it out after the fact. I stopped shopping at Dick’s years ago over a gun purchase. I saw the Sunday add for a slug gun that was well priced and I had a gift card. I drove about an hour to Dick’s to buy it and they told me that the Sunday sale add was a national publication and just because it was advertised there didn’t mean that store had any, which they didn’t. The story goes on but I won’t bore you with the details. I eventually got my shotgun but never went back.

    • Z March 4, 2018, 11:20 am

      Unless I’m mistaken, Dicks stopped selling AR pattern rifles in 2009. So you in fact did contribute to their bottom line for several years and have only recently decided to effect a policy change in order to make a meaningless political statement. See the irony here?

  • mikehoy March 2, 2018, 9:14 am

    I’m already boycotting Amazon for Bezo’s love affair with LGBT and Walmart is the only choice in my small town. Where am I supposed to shop? I wish for CEOs with spines. One thing we are all learning from all this is that the left and anti gunners are much more vocal and actually much more violent than us. Of course, more of them have nothing else to do since they don’t even have jobs!

  • Bayou Boys March 2, 2018, 8:38 am

    Walmart and Dicks are cowards Oh my less get ride of the guns we might lose some business. You know giving up your guns is like cutting off your nuts because the neighbors wife got pregnant!

  • John March 2, 2018, 8:26 am

    Kids are raised on Video games, cell phones, Facebook and You tube because parents dont want to be parent anymore. 21 is a good age to allow them to buy guns. It doenst say they can shoot guns, so you mothers and fathers can get off your ass and go spend sometime with your kids and have some fun shooting.

    • mikehoy March 2, 2018, 9:17 am

      I don’t have any idea about your kids but my kids were adults and on their own at 18. I guess you say you should be 21 to join the military. Same logic. The fact that kids aren’t growing up is definitely a parenting problem.

  • Gregory March 2, 2018, 7:28 am

    The only thing that I buy at Walmart is dog food. And now I will go elsewhere and pay more. Sorry Wal smart but you just lost another customer. And by the way Wal so smart 18 to 20 year olds can buy guns somewhere.

    • Z March 4, 2018, 11:26 am

      Yup, and in the meantime you will be driving farther and spending more to buy dog food. Seems like the decision hurts your bottom line more than theirs.

      • Old Roy March 5, 2018, 9:36 pm

        Z – Most will just switch to Costco, Kroger or other local large grocery chain for dog food, etc. Walmart probably won’t miss us. Screw you Walmart, you pack of bastards!

  • Bob March 2, 2018, 7:21 am

    I would like to make a comment a lot of people probably won’t like but it’s a fact.

    The first thing people want to do is take away another’s rights.

    No one says a word about Alchol
    Drunk drivers kill more people a year than about anything. But no one says let’s ban Alchol. It’s the Federal Goverments Golden Goose. Look at all that tax money.

    So let’s get off the AR-15 rifles there is a lot of people like myself that enjoys owning them, working on them and shooting them.

    People kill people the gun is just a tool if you take it away they just go get another tool. Look at Iraq & Afghanistan how much devestation they cause and a lot of it without a gun.

    How about instead of turning a blind eye to Mental Illness start addressing it.

    I have lived with Mental Illness in my family all my life. I know exactly how it works but the Government and Society refuses to do anything about. But they want to know why or how something like this could happen. When it does let’s take away all the guns. Well that’s not the answer

    Thanks
    Bob

    • Christopher Sourp March 2, 2018, 7:48 am

      Well said sir. I feel exactly the same way. The reason they will never bear down on alcohol is all politicians drink. I do not. I would be happy if bars were wiped from the face of the earth. You drive there to drink and leave drunk. A friend of mine was just hit by a drunken a-hole. His life is ruined. His basketball scholarship gone. I am really starting to hate a few things about this country.

    • Z March 4, 2018, 12:21 pm

      Hi Bob,

      Do you remember a period in history called Prohibition. It was a time that the government tried to enforce a ban on alcohol in the United States. Ever heard of MADD? It’s Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. I think it’s pretty clear that there are a lot of people in the country focused on the dangers of alcohol abuse.

      When Obama was in office he issued an executive order to restrict access to firearms for people with incapacitating mental issues. Trump rescinded that order. It’s immaculate to say that government and society in general refuse to do anything about mental health. The cuts to Medicare and Medicaid in the republican tax plan are going to further reduce access to mental health services. If you want to be accurate you can say that republicans won’t do anything about mental health issues, or in fact they’ll do everything possible to eliminate services.

      Paul Ryan voted to block the CDC from studying the relationship between overall health in the United States and days later asserted that nothing could be done to combat firearm related violence without accurate data. Yeah, we can’t come up with an effective solution without the data he voted to block, and therefore nothing should be done, that’s his stance.

      If you want to improve the overall situation, vote for the people who are working to do just that.

      • Proghunter March 21, 2018, 9:47 pm

        Sorry Z, your info is right out of the far left fake news bin. The mental health ban (Oboma) was so vaguely written that if a leftist neighbor wanted to create mayhem for his American (non-Dem) neighbor, all he had to do was call the cops and claim (no facts or basis) that his (hated) neighbor was a nut case and dangerous. The SWAT team would roll in at 0400 and crash the door, kill the resident if they resisted a break-in, and take all guns, ammo, and gear with them. Is that what you wanted to accomplish with the antigun Dems bill?

        Or the CDC example. The Dems wanted to use the far left infested CDC as a tool to declare guns to be a “national health issue” and then create CDC originated laws to “cure the problem”. Nothing but fake stats and charts (just like the fake global warming garbage, where .03% of real scientists support it and all the rest oppose it, just the opposite of the propaganda pitch).

        BTW: The CDC was ordered to do a study (by Obama’s minions) to refute the idea that there are at least 1-2 million defensive uses of firearms per year (rarely have shots fired). They performed a biased study but still came up with the undeniable fact that there are AT LEAST 300,000 such actions per year, with (grudgingly) PERHAPS as many as 2 million.

        Maybe the CDC should do a study on the “genderless” cult and declare them to be real life zombies.

  • Jesse Scott March 2, 2018, 7:08 am

    Big deal. not like they are the first place you go for a firearm anyway. If they had any balls they would have stopped selling any firearms. But oh wait, there is that money thing. Hypocrits.

  • Red March 2, 2018, 6:52 am

    For those a bit weak on American history, the 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18 in order to help justify the sacrifice of our young men in the debacle we call the Vietnam War. More grist for the mill was and ever shall be needed. This unsound and ill advised move became just another of the government imposed burdens we have to deal with. I think many people are able to reflect accurately on all the eighteen-year-olds they have known and arrive at a conclusion that the vast majority are barely able to manage their own affairs. How then can we suggest they have the ability, based on education and experience to make a well informed decision on who should represent us and lead the “free world”. Now some years since 1971, we have the least responsible generation of misinformed and self absorbed youth in our history. Too many are now raised by Wikipedia and FB, taught that their instant gratification is paramount and encouraged to give voice to their every thought without any guidance of parent and home because those are now anathema. Why should anyone be shocked at the events of recent past. Angry self absorbed children with guns are the combination for success in destruction we read about daily. Walmart’s choice is one I can certainly live with. After all we can buy Chinese manufactured products in every other store anyway.

    • joefoam March 2, 2018, 8:25 am

      Well put, if we could get our educators to teach again instead of indoctrinate, maybe the current generation of young people would be more aware of the real world around them.

  • Steven Crisman March 2, 2018, 6:38 am

    S.H. Blannelberry. I like your article this age increase and the ceasing of selling of certain firearms is concerning but it does need one small update. Current Walmart training that while part of the Active Shooter training, but could be argued to extend to any physical threat, is Avoid, Deny, Defend. Avoid the shooter where possible. Deny the shooter access to you if you can’t avoid. Finally the training states the you do have a RIGHT to Defend yourself. This training was developed in partnership with Texas University. I am a big 2nd Amendment proponent. We can’t truly protect this amendment without vetting our source, claims, and anything else. We must also speak with patience and respect. To show that I am doing this now please note that I did say I liked your article and agreed with the overall message. Then I simply stated that it needed one small update so that the information was correct. I work for Walmart as an associate and I have both good and bad feelings about the company. It is far from perfect but fortunately is better than at least some.

  • JGinNJ March 2, 2018, 6:29 am

    Someone pointed out that the rental car companies know about human brain development, and the age they have picked for being free is 25. So no individual who is under 25 should be allowed to buy a car. Just think of how many lives could be saved!

    • Dennis M March 3, 2018, 12:41 am

      Most people that age are driving a parents car anyway. Of course there are parents that buy their little darlings anything they want then wonder why the kids don’t listen to them.
      I got my first car at 17. Had to pay my own insurance and buy my gas. Not happening with this generation.

  • Zbys March 2, 2018, 5:59 am

    Great idea actually !
    I would go one step further – ban all gun and ammo sales to all democrats, leftists, communists and such fellas.
    It will clear the air for good for long time.

    • Z March 4, 2018, 12:28 pm

      If you look at the political leanings of the mass shooters they tend towards ultra conservative right wing anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-free choice, white nationalist, or nothing at all. Interviews with apprehended mass shooters have produced zero evidence of democratic, liberal, or progressive ideology. Those that did vote, voted republican.

      • Proghunter March 21, 2018, 9:58 pm

        Ah yes, the ever misinformed Z. Your statement is precisely the opposite of reality. You are projecting your progressive-fascist (what Dems actually are) world view onto real Americans. Illegals crashing the border are not immigrants. But that concept flies over your head. Being against militant gay activities (like attacking bakery owners who understand that you are not normal), or “gay marriage”, or the whole “genderless” insanity, or the extensive corruption voter fraud by Dems is, to snowflakes like you, “extremist”. And to racists like you, all who oppose the totalitarian goals of the progressive Dems must all be “white nationalists”. There are significant percentages of non-whites who oppose your party, and you hate to admit they exist. BTW: Most legal immigrants from Mexico are against the masses of illegals pouring across the border.

        So Z, to correct your intense delusional understanding of what the fake news media and the DNC claims, try reading a solid book on the history of the ideology you so love: “Liberal Fascism”. Then move on to more scholarly tomes written in the 1930s such as von Mises (requires a greater degree of reading skill than you possess, I am certain).

  • Mike H. March 2, 2018, 5:52 am

    Who gives a Rats-A– what wally-world does? The wally-world in the area I live in is a JOKE anyway. The employee working in the sporting goods dept, today was in the jewelry dept. yesterday. A few years ago my lady friend at the time decided to buy me a rifle at Christmas. She went to the local wally-world and told the employee that she wanted a rifle. My friend didn’t know much about guns,so she took the advice of the employee behind the counter. That Christmas morning when I opened my present, I had a brand new 410 single-shot shotgun. The employee who sold her the shotgun thought a 410 shotgun was a rifle!

  • Concerned Reader March 2, 2018, 5:40 am

    If the person is of legal age and right to purchase, then WalMart should not be allowed to discriminate against them.
    SHAME ON YOU WALMART !!!

  • Danny Sapp March 2, 2018, 5:12 am

    An 18 year old can fight AND DIE for his/her country, but can’t buy a rifle or beer upon returning home. Isn’t there something wrong with this picture?

  • Zack Westmoland March 2, 2018, 3:02 am

    Why not raise the age at which you are recognized as an adult too? Everything to 21. Voting? 21 Drink? 21 Smoke? 21 Now Guns? 21 Driving too, ‘cuz that requires attention and safe handling. Oh, and sciences have shown that our brains dont finish developing until 25 ish, so lets just set that now while we’re at it. No full citizen rights until 25. Still considered a minor until 25. That’ll solve a lot of problems.
    (Thinking, if the Supreme court determined that the 2nd enables the right of all citizens, that means a legal, voting aged, adult of 18 can’t have that right taken just because of age?)

    • Shooter March 2, 2018, 8:01 am

      ObamaCare determines you’re not an adult until 26, parents must carry you until then. Voting? Okay at 18. Remember when you were 18?

    • tired wingnut March 2, 2018, 8:17 am

      Your children can remain on your health insurance until age 26. Maybe they shouldn’t be considered adults for anything until age 26. Unfortunately that means they will be living with you until at least 26. Also means they will likely never mature. I think our children have been purposely dumbed down for the past 30 years. They can’t perform the basics that I was taught many years ago, yet they know all about diversity and conflict resolution. Lot of good that will do you when achmed the jihadie is getting ready to slice your throat.

  • Little Guy March 1, 2018, 8:08 pm

    Walmart’s decision will be a boon to the smaller gun shops. Unless the communists in Congress pass a law restricting guns and ammo sales for those under the age of 21, the smaller gun shops may have an influx of new customers. F.U. Walmart!

  • Dewey March 1, 2018, 6:43 pm

    It’s a free-ish country. What Wal-Mart does is far less important than what the current occupant of the white house does.
    In fact, what big-box stores do is completely irrelevant since they don’t make law. Fear not fanboys, your president didn’t really betray you because you didn’t really elect him.

  • Blue Dog March 1, 2018, 4:15 pm

    It feels a little strange to think of someone in the age range of 18 to 20 buying their first firearm at Wal-Mart. I am trying to think of a good comparison and can’t really come up with one. Losing your virginity to a hooker? Buying your first drink in a bar and it’s a Smirnoff Ice? Mounting your first antlers but from a deer you hit with a car? Catching a carp on a rod and reel?
    I did buy a muzzleloader once in a Wal-Mart but I have never bought a firearm at one. Anything I might want that they have to sell I either already have or have owned and am not interested in another one.

    • rifflicks March 2, 2018, 6:24 am

      Why do you ASSume that the 18 – 20 year old is buying their “first” Gun?….WHAT……if that 18 – 20 year old wants to buy an AR-15 that feels and shoots “similarly” to the GUN that he was already trained with in the Military to protect people that think he is too Immature, or has the right to own one???

      • Dewey March 2, 2018, 11:09 am

        Get off the high horse about the nobility of “serving” in the military. If the minimum age to enlist were 21, then far fewer would do so. Having had some more time to think for themselves, many would see that the only entities that they are serving are corporations. Not one citizen of this country is any “safer” because of the actions of the military, in fact, the opposite argument could be made. Patriotism is childish enough, blind patriotism is extremely dangerous.

        • Mike Watkins March 2, 2018, 1:02 pm

          Dewey you are an effing moron. Go back to your anti-fa a-hole buddies where you belong.

          • Dewey March 3, 2018, 1:59 pm

            Great argument Mike. Prove me wrong.

        • Dennis M March 3, 2018, 12:47 am

          You never served, did You? Well, neither did I. But I have great respect for those that did, do, or will.

          • Dewey March 3, 2018, 1:56 pm

            I serve the country four times a year, every year. When I pay my quarterly taxes.

      • Z March 4, 2018, 4:52 pm

        Wouldn’t it still be his first purchased gun? Your description doesn’t negate that.

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