Huffington Post
Walmart says it will stop selling AR-15s and other sporting rifles, a spokesman confirmed to The Huffington Post on Wednesday.
The chain won't stock modern sports rifles such as the AR-15, nor
semi-automatic shotguns. The price of remaining inventory will be
reduced, Walmart rep Kory Lundberg told HuffPost. BearingArms.com first reported the change Tuesday.
The company will continue to sell shotguns and other “hunting
weapons,” Lundberg said. "We're focusing on firearms more associated
with hunters and sportsmen."
Though the retail giant said the move was simply a reflection of
changing customer tastes, it comes at a time when Walmart has been
moving to a kinder, gentler image under new CEO Doug McMillon. The chain
is under pressure as the minimum wage movement gains steam and the
economy picks up.
This new move is a sign of a more empathetic Walmart, said Bill
George, the former Medtronic CEO who writes often about leadership.
"This comes as a big surprise, given Walmart’s market. Good for them,"
he said in an email to The Huffington Post.
