Every year, Walmart employees sell thousands of firearms. Something they’re not allowed to do? Carry one. In 2017, Walmart even fired a police officer who worked there part time for violating its weapons policy. This was despite the fact that his department required him to be armed. It’s not surprising then that the company has gotten its workers to leave their guns at home. Unfortunately, mass murders aren’t so co-operative.
On August 3, twenty people were murdered at an El Paso Walmart. We don't yet know whether the alleged killer knew about Walmart's rules. Something we do know? That he left a manifesto telling other killers to strike where victims are unlikely to shoot back:
Remember: it is not cowardly to pick low hanging fruit. AKA Don’t attack heavily guarded areas to fulfill your super soldier COD fantasy. Attack low security targets.
What we also know? That legally armed citizens have stopped mass shootings before.
RELATED NEWS: Nobody Needs an AR-15? These Folks Did.
In 2007, a Colorado church was stormed by a gunman; thanks to armed parishioner Jeanne Assam, he didn't get far:
Assam actions weren’t unique. Off-duty police officer Ken Hammond ended a mass shooting when he was at a restaurant with his wife. In 2015, an Uber driver with a concealed handgun permit stopped a mass shooting in Chicago. And last year, legally armed citizens took down a mass shooter at a Walmart in Washington.
Some argue that more people carrying guns will lead to more violence, but the facts say otherwise.
RELATED NEWS: Texans Who Carry Have A Lower Murder Rate Than Brits
In 2018 over 1.3 million Texans were licensed to carry a firearm; one of them was convicted of murder and another three were convicted of manslaughter. If they formed their own country, it would have a per capita murder rate of 0.29 per 100 thousand. For comparison, the UK's 2018 rate was 1.2. And while permit holders rarely commit crimes, they do stop them.
As of yet, Walmart has made no statements on changing its carry policy, and that's too bad. Because until it does, the company is letting predators know what they can find there:
Easy targets.
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