Retail | Changing Policies to Respond to Gun Violence Taking Place In 2018, following the Parkland mass shooting, Walmart made some policy changes to its gun sales in favor of gun safety: • Raising the age for purchasing a gun in its stores from 18 to 21 • Declining to sell bump stocks • Requiring gun buyers to pass background checks • Asking customers not to openly carry guns into its stores In 2019, following a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, Walmart made further policy changes, including: • Discontinuing sales of short-barrel rifle ammunition such as the 223 caliber and 5.56 caliber that, while commonly used in some hunting rifles, can also be used in large capacity clips on military-style weapons • Discontinuing handgun ammunition • Discontinuing handgun sales in Alaska, marking a complete exit from handguns CNN: Walmart Gun Violence Restrictions