WALMART, at gun point

August 3rd 2019, a dark day for all of us. Mass shooting occurred at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, United States. A gunman shot and killed 22 people and injured 24 others.

I always ask this question to myself, what can we do to stop all this, as an individual or a community?

Who is responsible for all this?

The gunman who shot and killed those innocent people or the place where he bought his gun from?

Walmart, the biggest retail chain in America, after a month of the shooting at El Paso, made some changes in their new gun policy in which they are banning the sale of certain types of assault weapon ammunition and asking customers not to open carry inside the store.

In a statement announcing the policy change, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said, “We believe these actions will reduce our market share of ammunition from around 20% to a range of approximately 6 to 9%.” McMillion also requested that “customers no longer openly carry firearms” inside the store in “states where ‘open carry’ is permitted.”

So, what was the result of this action?

Let’s see

Havoc on Twitter

This statement announced by Walmart called for a huge social controversy.

Within hours of the statement, excited citizens expressed both their delight and disappointment with America’s largest retailer, many using the hashtag #BoycottWalmart to protest in favor of Second Amendment rights.

Last year, similarly Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that it would no longer sell assault style weapons, sparking a similar reaction from the internet. The chain’s CEO, Ed Stack, pulled firearms from 125 of its store locations following a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was revealed that alleged gunman Nikolas Cruz had purchased a firearm from the sporting goods chain.

But is there an impact of all these steps taken by the companies?

Opinion

Walmart’s moves follow two mass shootings at the retailer’s stores in this two years. The first decision taken by them was to increase the age limit from 18 to 21 and now this decision of partial removal of the guns.

Does all these decisions help anyone?

Definitely this bold decision has shown that companies are trying to do something regarding the issue.

But the question arises is, is that enough?

I don’t think so.

Walmart selling guns is not the sole reason for the shootings, but definitely something that involves in a cycle of this shoot out, so why not remove this whole policy of taking all the ammunition out of their store.

This step will impact the whole economy and encourage others to take similar steps. Walmart being the biggest retail store in the country gives them power to influence the politics of the country as well.

So rather taking small bold steps, why not a big bold step?

Share your views on this issue

Hope you enjoyed reading

HM