Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Walmart reported upbeat second-quarter financial results on Thursday, but before discussing rising same-store sales and e-commerce numbers, CEO Doug McMillon reflected on gun violence and suggested reconsideration of a ban on “military-style rifles.”
McMillon estimated that Walmart — founded in Arkansas by avid bird hunter Sam Walton — commands 2% of the overall American gun market and a fifth of the ammunition trade.
Devoting the opening passage of the earnings report to the gun issue, McMillon noted that Walmart doesn’t sell tactical rifles. It sells handguns only in Alaska, and it isn’t among the top two or three firearms sellers, he said.
“We’ve attempted to take common sense steps that allow us to serve customers and create a safer environment,” McMillion said. “We estimate that we represent about 2 percent of the market for firearms today, which we believe places us outside at least the top three sellers in the industry. We estimate we have about a 20 percent share of ammunition.”
Since two Walmart employees died in recent gunfire in Southaven, Mississippi, and 22 customers were killed in a terror shooting in El Paso, Texas, McMillon has praised his employees’ heroism and spirit. But he’s also faced pressure from presidential candidates, the American Federation of Teachers and even some of his own employees to stop selling guns altogether, and to ban the carrying of firearms in stores.
“Our hearts continue to be with our associates in El Paso and Southaven … our hearts go out to the families,” McMillon said. “I continue to be amazed by the courage, resilience and caring of our people. …
“We will strive to use these experiences to identify additional actions we can take to strengthen our processes, improve our technology and create an even safer environment in our stores. We’re also thinking through the broader issues related to gun violence and things we should do to help create safer communities.”
He noted that the company has strict background-check policies, a higher minimum age for buying ammunition, and video surveillance at all gun purchase stations.
In Thursday’s statement, McMillon also ventured into the tumultuous political topic of gun availability:
“In the national conversation around gun safety, we’re encouraged that broad support is emerging to strengthen background checks and to remove weapons from those who have been determined to pose an imminent danger,” he said.
“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. We must also do more to understand the root causes that lead to this type of violent behavior.”
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