Walmart said Thursday that it has removed all guns and ammo from displays at its stores in order to keep the merchandise from being stolen amid “civil unrest” across parts of the US.
The retail giant, which sells guns in about half of its 4,700 locations, said people can still buy guns and ammo upon request in stores where they are normally available.
“We have seen some isolated civil unrest, and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement.
The move comes as Philadelphia has faced days of looting and riots after cops fatally shot Walter Wallace, a 27-year-old black man who police said failed to comply with orders to drop a knife.
It also comes amid concern that the Nov. 3 presidential election next week could prompt unrest, particularly if the results remain immediately inconclusive.
The retailer previously removed guns and ammo from display after the police killing of George Floyd, which prompted nationwide riots and looting of several Walmarts.
Walmart has been gradually scaling back its sales of firearms, though it’s still a major purveyor of guns in the country.
The company stopped selling assault-style weapons like the AR-15 in 2015. It also raised the minimum age to buy a gun in its stores in 2018 to 21, from 18.
Walmart added Thursday that “we only sell firearms in approximately half of our stores, primarily where there are large concentrations of hunters, sportsmen, and sportswomen.”