CBS News By Sarah Min 7/9/2019
Walmart will cease selling firearms in New Mexico later this month because of a new state law that expands background checks.
The law now applies to nearly all firearm sales and requires licensed dealers, like Walmart, to facilitate private-party transfers.
Walmart is concerned because the new law requires it to conduct background checks for guns it doesn't sell.
It's also worried that people bringing guns into Walmarts to register them would create safety issues for associates and customers.
Walmart is leaving the firearms business in New Mexico later this month after the state expanded background checks last week to nearly all firearms and required licensed dealers to facilitate private party transfers. The retailer first posted in-store signs about the decision June 28.
The Bentonville, Arkansas-based general merchandiser already conducts background checks for firearms it sells in the state's 34 federally licensed stores, but a spokesperson said the company is concerned that the new law put into effect July 1 would require it to facilitate private transactions for weapons it does not sell. That means customers can come in with guns, like a handgun or assault rifle, they purchased elsewhere looking to register them.
A Walmart spokesperson said the company does not sell assault rifles or handguns (with the exception of Alaska, where Walmart still sells handguns), and store associates aren't trained to handle them. The spokesperson said the retailer was concerned that the firearms might also alarm customers who are not likely to expect them in their general merchandise store.
More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/walmart-to-stop-selling-guns-in-new-mexico/
