Walmart: 'It's time' for Congress to debate an assault-weapons ban

Walmart executives said Thursday that Congress should debate the effectiveness of an assault-weapons ban in the wake of deadly shootings at two of its stores.

“We made our own decision about MSRs [modern sporting rifles] several years ago when we removed that category from our stores, and we believe it's time for Congress to debate that issue as well,” said Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Walmart. “And we will lend our perspective and support as somebody who's been a firearms dealer for more than 20 years.”

Walmart also revealed Thursday that it accounts for 2% of gun sales in the US and 20% of ammunition sales.

Walmart executives said Thursday that Congress should debate the effectiveness of an assault-weapons ban in the wake of deadly shootings at two of its stores.

Walmart has said it has no plans to stop selling guns. But Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said Thursday that he is “encouraged” by support to strengthen background checks and “remove weapons from those who have been determined to pose an imminent danger.”

“We do not sell military-style rifles, and we believe the reauthorization of the Assault Weapons ban should be debated to determine its effectiveness in keeping weapons made for war out of the hands of mass murderers,” McMillon said in prepared remarks on Thursday. “We must also do more to understand the root causes that lead to this type of violent behavior.”

During a call with reporters Thursday morning, company executives reiterated McMillon's remarks, but stopped short of explicitly stating support for an assault weapons ban.

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“We made our own decision about MSRs [modern sporting rifles] several years ago when we removed that category from our stores, and we believe it's time for Congress to debate that issue as well,” said Dan Bartlett, executive vice president of corporate affairs for Walmart. “And we will lend our perspective and support as somebody who's been a firearms dealer for more than 20 years.”

When asked where Walmart will stand on the issue, Bartlett said, “that's up to elected officials.”

Walmart says it accounts for 2% of gun sales

Walmart also revealed Thursday that the company accounts for 2% of gun sales in the US and 20% of ammunition sales.

“We estimate that we represent about 2% of the market for firearms today, which we believe places us outside at least the top three sellers in the industry,” McMillon said in prepared remarks.

He shared the data as the company faces growing pressure to stop selling guns in the aftermath of the shootings, which killed 22 people at stores in El Paso, Texas and Southaven, Missouri.

Some of that pressure is coming from Walmart's own employees, who are behind a petition signed by more than 82,000 people calling on the company to take a stronger stance against guns.

“Walmart remains one of the largest retailers of firearms in the United States, and there is a direct correlation between the number/availability of guns and the amount of mass shootings per capita,” the petition reads.

While the company has not indicated any plans to stop selling guns, the company is looking at potentially making changes to improve store safety.

McMillon said Walmart is looking to “identify additional actions we can take to strengthen our processes, improve our technology and create an even safer environment in our stores.”