Many large retail chains are choosing to establish a new rule which bans customers from open carrying inside their stores. While I do not open carry myself, I do believe it is an infringement on the rights of the second Amendment. For instance, what if a person is traveling through a state that does not recognize their conceal carry license, however allows open carry. Should that person now be defenseless while grabbing groceries?
At the beginning of September, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon announced the following: “After selling through our current inventory commitments, we will discontinue sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber that, while commonly used in some hunting rifles, can also be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons."
We’ve been working to understand the many important issues arising from the horrific events in El Paso and Southaven, as well as those raised in the national discussion around gun violence. Today, we’re sharing some next steps: https://t.co/chWzGf6Amv pic.twitter.com/Ye3xjjRdrh
— Walmart Inc. (@WalmartInc) September 3, 2019
Just hours later, Kroger Corporate Affairs Vice President Jessica Adelman said, “Kroger is respectfully asking that customers no longer openly carry firearms into our stores,” adding that this also goes for stores in states where open carry is allowed, with the exception of law enforcement.
On Thursday, Walgreens jumped the bandwagon. Now Meijer is joining that list as well. Personally, I have never been to a Meijer, but they're huge here in the North and I know many people who do shop there. I now have no interest to check one out.
Meijer tweeted out on Monday, "The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, so we respectfully request that our customers do not open carry firearms at Meijer. We’ve made this decision because open carry can create an environment that makes our customers and team members feel unsafe."
The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, so we respectfully request that our customers do not open carry firearms at Meijer. We’ve made this decision because open carry can create an environment that makes our customers and team members feel unsafe.
— Meijer (@meijer) September 9, 2019
MLive reports that although Miejer banned open carry, “it was not immediately clear what, if any, changes Meijer is making to sales of ammunition and firearms.”
