Wal-Mart Sets New Policy on Background Checks for Gun Sales That Exceeds Federal Law

Associated Press ^ | Jul 3, 2002 | Brian Skoloff

[I_Publius]

Jul 3, 2002

Wal-Mart Sets New Policy on Background Checks for Gun Sales That Exceeds Federal Law

By Brian Skoloff
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Wal-Mart, the nation's biggest gun seller, is strengthening its policy on background checks of firearms buyers beyond the requirements of federal law.

The retail giant directed its stores to hold up sales in which the time limit for a background check had expired because of concern criminals could still get guns, spokeswoman Jessica Moser Eldred said.

Potential gun buyers nationwide undergo a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The dealer can sell a gun, though, if the check isn't completed within three business days.

Managers at Wal-Mart's 2,600 American stores must wait until the check is made, no matter how long it takes, before selling a gun, according to the memo signed by company executives. The memo was dated May 31 and the policy is now in effect.

The policy applies only to rifles and shotguns, since Wal-Mart does not sell handguns.

"We wanted to make sure we were doing our part to keep guns out of the hands of those who should not be getting them," Eldred said.

Law enforcement officials are notified if an ineligible buyer gets a gun because the time limit expired, said Gary Wick, assistant operations manager for the national background-check system.

Policies such as Wal-Mart's can help prevent potentially dangerous situations, he said, especially when law officers try to retrieve the gun.

"Then it becomes an officer safety issue, because a lot of people will get upset when an officer comes after a gun they have bought," Wick said.

The National Rifle Association said it is considering its response to Wal-Mart's policy. The group disagrees with the policy "in the sense that it penalizes law abiding citizens," said spokesman Andrew Arulanandam.

AP-ES-07-03-02 1726EDT

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA5IP3Q73D.html

[I_Publius]

Can we show Walmart the power of the American dollar?

This is a ridiculous attempt to keep guns out of the hands of the average, law-abiding citizen.

I vote for a Freeping of Walmart and perhaps a boycott, which wouldn't be hard for me to do anyway.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

The Great Wal-of-China? Employing stricter gun checks in America? Couldn't be!

[alaskanfan]

Thank God we don't have one yet (to drive the little ma and pa stores out of business).

I guess I'd tell them to pound sand!!!!

[Viva Le Dissention]

Well, I don't think Wal-Mart is going to miss you. Honestly, I'd have to say that even if everyone who has ever been on this site never went to Wal-Mart again, I doubt the folks in Bentonville would even blink.

Sometimes it's good to be king, or in this case, the largest company in the world.

[BlessingInDisguise]

Can't buy at Walmart, can't buy at Kmart, where the heck can I shop anymore.

[CecilRhodesGhost]

Wal-Mart is a local friend to most cities and towns. It contributes to local scholarships, fund-raisers and community events. Wal-Mart provides affordable goods at the lowest prices, and is a major winner in NAFTA. Global economic policies lean in favor of the Wal-Marts, not the NRA member in some backwater town. Global economic policies will see that Wal-Marts prosper. In exchange, is it unreasonable for Wal-Mart Corporate to look upon the UN policy on strict gun control as a favorable thing? Yes. Because Wal-Mart works with globalization, not against it like the black-helicopter crowd. Wal-Marts and corporations like it are going to set policies on a global level much much more than old-style national governments... because the world is shrinking and multi-national corporations swing more weight than local lawmakers. Corporations, not politicians, will set more and more of the policies and rules that the world will live by... get used to it.

[RAT Patrol]

I think it would be unwise to make too much of this. It is harmless for a business to make this decision on their own. It is their right to do so. What we need to be concerned with is the government mandating something like this. There is a huge difference in my opinion. If you don't like Wal-Mart's policy then don't buy your gun there.

[I_Publius]

That IS the scary thought about it, however if you look at the typical shopper in any Southern town (I refer to Southern towns only because those are the only Walmart's I have ever been in), they seem to be gun-loving, NASCAR watching, all American fans.

Surely if all the good-ol-boys in our country started protesting Walmart, they would feel it financially, at least to some extent.

[EBUCK]

Well, if Wal-Mart wants to do stricter background checks fine. I just won't spend a dime of my 3000 a year hunting/fishing/camping/BBQ budget there.

EBUCK

[RAT Patrol]

Exactly!

[I_Publius]

Hear...hear!

I'd much rather go to the Bass Pro Shop anyway!

[EBUCK]

get used to it.

Everything that you said is inevitable, we are fighting against, because it's not inevitable. Go join the United Pessimists Dedicated to Non-Action and the Preservation of the Status Quo if your gonna spew that crap.

EBUCK

[Viva Le Dissention]

Yes. I split my time between Indianapolis and Lexington, VA, and the difference between the Wal-Marts are astounding.

Like you mentioned, it really does cater to the gun-loving, NASCAR type folks in the South, as the hunting section (they actually have a hunting section in Lexington) is like 10 times larger than the one in Indy.

But while Wal-Mart offers great prices on ammo and accessories, I never thought their gun prices were that hot. I imagine that Wal-Mart isn't able to buy quite enough bulk of guns that it can really wield a lot of power over the gun manufacturers, as it can pretty much any other manufacturer in the world. That's just speculation, though.

[I_Publius]

Only due to the ever growing greed of the U.S. citizen.

If only more Christian's would start practicing what they preached, or pretend to adhere to on Sunday mornings, then we wouldn't have these kind of greedy issues and corporations wouldn't be getting away with these antics.

[archy]

Can we show Walmart the power of the American dollar?

What is Wal-Mart doing to ensure that illegal aliens are not employed at or shopping in their stores? I'd like to hear an answer from them on that one, too.

-archy-/-

[DCBryan1]

Can't buy at Walmart, can't buy at Kmart, where the heck can I shop anymore.

HTTP://WWW.DONSWEAP.COM

[EBUCK]

The problem with their decision is that it gives our nanny-cow-tow politicians more reasonable arguments like "Well, Wal-Mart, the leading retailer of firearms hasn't seen a decrease in sales therefore the population in general isn't opposed to such procedures". We've got to make a dent in their figures in order to overcome this eventuality. Fortunately, gun owners seem to stick together and a national boycott of Mal-Marts firearms seems feesable.

EBUCK

[Viva Le Dissention]

I don't understand. What does Wal-Mart care who spends money at its stores?

Legal, illegal, whatever. If they've got money, I don't think Wal-Mart will turn them away.

[The KG9 Kid]

After this news and the report of how they treat their lowly 'associate' workers earlier this week, can anyone give a good reason why they still choose to go to Walmart and buy their Chinese crap?

Prices can't be THAT good at Walmart.

[Sender]

...where the heck can I shop anymore?

Personally, besides gun shows I like pawn shops. Both seem to be on our side for the most part. This whole waiting for a background check / waiting period issue could easily end all gun shows as we know them if the antis win on this. If I'm buying a rifle at Wal-Mart and it takes a week to get the check done, that is at least less of a dilemma than if I buy a rifle at a gun show and it takes even 3 days to get the check done...by that time, the traveling dealer is long gone.