Contact Wal-Mart corporate headquarters here. Select “Feedback” then “Corporate Office”. Let them know you’re unhappy that they signed a deal with Bloomberg. Keep in mind you’re likely communicating with someone who has no idea what Bloomberg’s mayor coalition is all about, so make sure to explain in brief. Here’s what I sent:
Dear Sir or Madam,
It was with great regret that I read Wal-Mart has signed an agreement with New York City Mayor Bloomberg’s coalition of “Mayors Against Illegal Guns”. Despite the name of the Mayor’s organization, it is has advocated policies that would infringe on the second amendment rights of Americans, not merely go after the criminal trafficking of firearms. The existing federal and state regulations, enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which Wal-Mart is legally bound to obey as a condition of retaining its Federal Firearms License, are more than adequate for the purposes of being a responsible corporate citizen when it comes to selling firearms and ammunition. It was entirely unnecessary for Wal-Mart to concede anything to Mayor Bloomberg’s group.
Because this deal is an affront to myself and gun owners everywhere, I regret that I will take all my purchases for firearms and ammunition elsewhere. Wal-Mart may have great prices for shooting supplies, but there is no price that I’m willing to assign my second amendment rights.
Sincerely,
[Sebastian]
Langhorne, PA
It was hard to write that, because I really wanted to tell them where they can shove their smiley faced low prices after handing a propaganda coup like that to that jackass Bloomberg. But anger is seldom persuasive. Needless to say, I now have a very strong preference for Target, and you can bet your butt I won’t be sticking up for Wal-Mart again when the hippies come bitching about them about not paying a living wage, or providing adequate health care to employees.
You think we should remind them of bloomturds interference with ATF “investigations” and illegal actions by sending out folks to conduct straw purchases in the past?
You know, it would be awesome of Gander Mountain or someone else would have a “Welcome Wal-Mart customers” sale or something like that.
I’d be happy if Gander Mountain didn’t sell ammo for $21 that Wal-Mart sells for $12.
From Wal-Mart’s perspective, this is a win-win. On the one hand, they get “feel good” PR from supporting Bloomberg. On the other, they move towards eventually eliminating products that don’t conform to their self-service business model (ie, fewer employees).
Wal-Mart has also been trying to establish a foothold in NYC, so they probably figure Bloomberg will now help them out.
Well why stop at not buying firearm products? If wal mart wants to play I’ll spend my money elsewhere.
I have to buy both a riding & a push mower this year, & guess where I won’t buy them?
I really need to upgrade my computer, the old one is getting cranky, guess where I’m not buying it?
HD TV? yes I will be buying one but guess where I won’t be buying it?
Target isn’t exactly a friend to gun owners, either; they’ve never sold firearms or ammo, and they stopped selling many models of airsoft or BB guns in 1990 outside the clear plastic variant.
Unfortunately, WalMart was pretty much the last large scale food and sundry store to really be remotely pro-gun, and they’ve always been questionable about that. Removing firearms from most of their stores was pretty problematic in the first place, whether the cause was economic or other, it still drove a number of FFLs out of business and then left nothing behind in the gap.
I’ve got a couple gun stores nearby, and a Cabelas that’s not a killer trip, so that’s pretty much where my ammo money is going to have to go. The real thing that’d hurt them is going elsewhere for food and electronics, and I’m not sure there are too many alternatives closeby for the former.
My feedback to Walmart corporate office:
I have been a defender of Walmart in the past against people who falsely malign Walmart. But the Faustian bargain you have made with a the execrable Mayor Bloomberg is a disgrace to Walmart and an affront to law-abiding gun owners everywhere. Bloomberg is not a crusader for law and order, he is a rich nut who has violated Federal gun laws by sending his minions to make illegal gun purchases from unsuspecting mom and pop gun stores, and then sought to have them prosecuted. Fortunately, federal authorities are on to this scheme and have not cooperated with Bloomberg’s mischief. Why is Walmart now cooperating with what is essentially a criminal enterprise?
It is sad that Walmart has capitulated to the extortion and gangster tactics of Mayor Bloomberg. Bloomberg and his ilk know very well that what they are doing is merely an attack against the rights of law-abiding citizens and is in no way an anti-crime measure. Bloomberg’s claim to stop illegal gun sales is merely a convenient excuse to attempt to justify his nefarious deeds. Walmart should not be lending its name and support to such practices.
As a law-abiding gun owner I will not do business with Walmart or Sam’s Club and I will no longer stick up for Walmart when my friends and acquaintances attack its economic policies.
Since the Wal-Marts in my area don’t sell too much in the way of guns and ammo anymore, I’ll support a “Sportsman’s” boycott against them by vowing not to purchase any fishing or hunting equipment at any Wal-Mart stores.
You guys have to remember, Wal-Mart’s merchandise are made by the lowest bidder, which is why they can sell it so cheap. Even the guns they sell are factory seconds, although they won’t tell you that. I would estimate that 95% of the stuff they sell is made in China, which we all know, has the one of the worst human rights violators on record, uses shortcuts to make goods that are harmful to humans and severely undermines our economy.
By the way, Bloomingidiotberg owns a big stake in Wal-Mart stock. The billionaire extortionist would dump their stock in a NY minute if they didn’t capitulate to his demands.
Doom on Wal-Mart
If only we could get CostCo to sell ammo… I plagiarized heavily and submitted a similar feedback letter, thank you for laying the groundwork.
All the more reason to buy from the mom and pop shops……
Here’s my feedback to Wal-Mart Corp:
Having just become aware of a change in Wal-Mart Corp’s firearms policy I felt the need to give you my feedback.
In regards to what I read in the article “Wal-Mart Tightens Gun Policy” at http://www.federalobserver.com/archive.php?aid=3075.
Wal-Mart Corporation has lost any future revenue they might have received from me and my family due to this policy.
Due to this new corporate policy, I now regret the many years of patronage and tens of thousands of dollars I’ve spent at Wal-Mart stores.
This new policy treats anyone buying a firearm like a criminal (or future criminal) just because they buy a rifle or shotgun. Such an an affront to the dignity of myself and your other customers will not be tolerated by me and I am encouraging everyone I know to also take their business elsewhere.
Uh, WalMart *may* be getting some less than stellar arms in the ones they routinely stock (as a possible result of dickering the price down to the least the manufacturer can afford to make the product for), their Special Order guns come from a distributor and are taken off the same rack as the ones they ship to your local gun dealer.
Target has been anti-gun and anti-hunting for as long as I can remember. They contribute heavily to some anti-hunting organizations. If you want to support a store that is still pretty good on the gun front, I’d suggest Ace Hardware for the things they carry. Most of the Ace stores I know actually have a sporting goods and gun section.
*yoinks Sebastian’s letter*
Unfortunately, me being a resident of the People’s Republik of Kalifornistan, it will be more-or-less meaningless – I am not sure if Wallyworld was ever permitted to sell anyuthing even remotely relating to firearms in its existence here…
Thank you for posting that letter format. I have sent mine, and am forwarding this to my 750 member gun clucb to enocourage them to do the same.
i do not shop much at either store anyway so i will just make it even less… target used to sell ammo years ago in houston but haven’t looked lately… bloomberg sucks and his mayors coalition should keep the criminals in their cities in jail longer… has it become politically incorrect to arrest anyone because the race card gets played… and yes, white folks cannot play the race card because whitey keep everyone else DOWN!!! i say grow the f- up and quit acting like a 2 year old… all communities need to heed FOLKS LIKE BILL COSBY!!! we need to tell our children whatup not the other way round. wake UP AMERICA we may NEED to change soon. that will not be fun…
Response from Wal-Mart:
Dear Donald,
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
I actually got a response from Wal-Mart (I reorganized the exchange so that it reads in chronological order):
–My original email:
Comments: It comes as sad news to me that you’ve aligned yourself with Bloomberg with regards to firearms. Sam Walton might very well be turning in his grave. You’ve capitulated to a billionaire extortionist who happens to own a massive share of Wal-Mart stock and undermined every US citizens 2nd Amendment right in one fell swoop. If you’re so willing to compromise with criminals (i.e.: Bloomberg’s “sting operation” and ordering his peons to conduct straw purchases), then I will no longer be shopping at Wal-Mart either. Good day!
–Here is their reply:
Subject: Response from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Ref #000000019336661)
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:39:57 -0500
From: cstreply@wal-mart.com
To: (intentionally omitted)
Thank you for your message.
Dear (RedneckInNY),
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
For further correspondence regarding this issue, please reply to this email.
–And here’s what I just wrote back:
You obviously don’t know that Bloomberg’s ultimate agenda is to ban all guns from law-abiding citizens’ hands. So before you tell me that you and Bloomberg are making strides to combat illegal gun activity, ask yourself this question: what makes the activity with a gun illegal? Could it be the actual criminal that is using said gun illegally? There really is no such thing as an “illegal gun.” Gun manufacturers are legally licensed to produce them and gun dealers are legally licensed to sell them and law-abiding citizens are legally able to purchase them and use them for lawful purposes. What’s really illegal is the activity that criminals engage in with the use of the tool. You really need to inform yourself of Bloomberg’s real agenda, because he’s misleading you. He also wants to get rid of the Tiahrt amendment because he can’t access the records of licensed gun owners, but the Tiahrt amendment was specifically designed to protect law-enforcement. He claims his police can’t access that database, but he’s wrong on that. It’s designed so that law-enforcement CAN access it. Again, he’s misleading you and the public into thinking that the Tiahrt amendment is a bad thing. If any Joe Shmoe could access that information, that would put a lot of law enforcement people at risk, not to mention the law-abiding gun owner. Where do you suppose criminals get their guns? They steal them. If they are allowed to access the gun database, they’d know exactly which house to go to get their guns. That leaves no one safe. Sorry to tell you, but you’re grossly mislead by Bloomberg. Bloomberg conducted his own illegal sting operation, for which a few of the gun dealers he maligned are suing him for defamation. The Feds were all ready to go after Bloomberg, but they came to a deal. Go figure. Money sure can buy one’s way out of anything, huh?
What’s more, I wonder how much of Wal-Mart’s stock Bloomberg owns.
–They really are being mislead by Bloomberg.