Walmart raises age limit for gun and ammo sales, Dick’s halts sales of ‘assualt-style rifles’

Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods on Wednesday announced changes to weapons and ammo sales policies, just two of the latest corporations to respond in some way to the deaths of 17 students and faculty at a school shooting in Florida.

Dick’s had discontinued sales of AR-15 models and other so-called assault rifles following the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary. Wednesday’s move pulls sales of the weapons from the company’s 35 Field and Stream stores.

“We deeply believe that this country’s most precious gift is our children. They are our future. We must keep them safe,” Dick’s noted in its announcement via Twitter.

The company also said it will no longer sell high-capacity magazines, and will not sell weapons to anyone under 21 years.

Walmart ended in 2015 sales of “modern sporting rifles,” which included the AR-15. The company does not sell handguns, except in Alaska, and does not sell high-capacity magazines.

:In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age. We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change,” noted a statement from corporate spokesman Randy Hargrove.

Continuing, he noted: “We take seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms and go beyond Federal law by requiring customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm. The law would allow the sale of a firearm if no response to a background check request has been received within three business days, but our policy prohibits the sale until an approval is given.

“We are also removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys. Our heritage as a company has always been in serving sportsmen and hunters, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.”