The recent gun violence at Walmart stores, with more than a dozen people killed by a gunman in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday (Aug 3) and two killed in Mississippi days before, has drawn attention to the company’s complicated history with gun sales.
Firearms have long made up a key part of Walmart’s business. In addition to being the world’s largest retailer, Walmart is often referred to as the world’s largest gun retailer.
Mr Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, was big on guns. An avid hunter, he opened his flagship store in Bentonville, Arkansas, specifically so he could be close to his in-laws’ quail-hunting ranch. Remington shotguns were his favorite, as Field & Stream once noted. He was such a devout fan that the gunmaker issued a commemorative model in his name after he died. But Walmart’s relationship with firearm sales has been fickle in the 26 years since it made the landmark decision to… The Straits Times
