Walmart has pulled firearms and ammunition from thousands of store floors across the US to protect customers and employees as tensions rise in parts of the country in the run-up to the presidential election.
The country’s largest retailer cited recent cases of civil unrest for the decision to remove the weapons, which it sells in about half of its 4,750 US stores, mainly in locations popular with hunters and sportspeople. Customers who wish to buy them will still be able to do, but the items have been removed from display.
“We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the past few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers,” the company said in a statement. “These items do remain available for purchase by customers.”