Firearms & Freedom

Here is the response I got to the letter I sent to Wal-Mart

Dear Peter,

Wal-Mart understands its role as a leading, responsible retailer in the U.S. and is making strides to strengthen its already existing security processes to help combat illegal gun activity in the communities we serve.  Wal-Mart has a long and proud history of offering the products hunters and outdoorsmen want and need and that will not change.

It is important to note that these procedures should not impede law-abiding citizens from purchasing firearms at our stores that sell them.  These processes merely provide us, as a retailer, an additional mechanism to assist law enforcement when illegal activity occurs.

We are hopeful these enhanced processes   with help from law enforcement and other retailers committing to do the same   can make a positive difference in our communities.

Thank you,
Wal-Mart Customer Relations

At least I got past the generic response, which is all Sebastian got so far. Let’s hope that Wally World is getting enough feedback on this that they are trying to do some damage control. We need to keep the pressure on them, and maybe they will abandon this deal.

Armed Canadian has more details on the actual agreement. I am not sure this is what is going on, but one way they could sidestep the Tiahrt amendment would be to keep their own records of trace requests from BATFE. The implication is also that they would be sharing that data with MAIG. This would obviously be a huge overstepping of their authority, and a huge invasion of privacy. Again, I don’t know that this is the plan, but seems like the only way what they are proposing to do would work.

If you haven’t heard, Wal-Mart has entered into an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg’s “Mayors against all Illegal Guns.” As you can imagine, this agreement is going to cause more problems for gun owners than criminals. Borrowing a little from Sebastian’s letter, I wrote the following: 

To whom it may concern,

It was with great regret that I read that Wal-Mart has reached an agreement with New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s coalition of “Mayors Against Illegal Guns”.  This organization and Mayor Bloomberg have a history of supporting and trying to force measures odious to law abiding gun owners, while ignoring measures that would have a real impact on crime and gun trafficking. 

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) already has systems in place to reduce illegal and straw purchases, while working to ensure a reasonable right of privacy for law abiding gun owners. Upon reviewing the deal reached with Bloomberg, these measures would do more to restrict our rights than to prevent illegal purchase and use of firearms, and would be an unnecessary invasion of our privacy.

Because this deal is an affront to myself and gun owners everywhere, I will be taking all my purchases for firearms and ammunition elsewhere.  While Wal-Mart may have some of the best prices for shooting supplies, I am not willing to support a company that does not support my second amendment rights. I sincerely hope you will reconsider this action, so that I can continue to do business with your company.

Sincerely,

Peter
Milwaukee, WI

Please contact Wal-Mart, and let them know how you feel about this. Maybe if they hear from enough people willing to pay more somewhere else, they will reconsider this bad policy.

Hat tip NRAhab, Michelle Malkin

Update: Wal-Mart’s response to my letter.