Walmart has joined Dick’s Sporting Goods in raising the minimum age of purchasing guns and ammunition at its stores to 21.
In a statement today, it said the decision came “in light of recent events”, and take its “obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms” seriously.
It will also be removing any items “resembling assault-style rifles” from its website, including airsoft guns and toys.
The statement took pains to remind the public that it hasn’t sold sporting rifles since 2015, and doesn’t sell handguns “except in Alaska where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers.”
The news follows the announcement from Dick’s Sporting Goods, the largest sporting goods store in America, saying it would end the sale of all assault-style rifles, as well as raise the age restriction for all guns to 21 years old.
“Thoughts and prayers are not enough,” it said, imploring the government to bring in sensible gun control and for others to follow its example.
As we wrote about earlier, Trump appears to at least be open to the idea of gun control. He surprised both Democrats and Republicans in a meeting where he implored them to look at Democratic bills long opposed by the majority of the Republican Party and the NRA that would raise the minimum age of purchasing guns to 21, ban high capacity and bump stocks, and bring in stricter background checks. It’s definitely something.
