Following the news that Dick’s Sporting Goods would cease selling AR-15s and raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm, Walmart have also announced their decision to raise their minimum purchasing age to 21.

Walmart stopped selling Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) and AR-15s back in 2015, but has now confirmed that they will raise the minimum age for purchasing firearms and ammunition from their stores from 18 to 21. This is in line with the current federal minimum age to purchase a handgun. They announced decision through a post on twitter:

Building on our 2015 decision to not sell modern sporting rifles, we announced important changes today:

– Raising the age for purchase of firearms and ammunition from 18 to 21 years old
– Removing online items resembling assault-style rifles

See details https://t.co/K7wnc0XEwK

— Walmart (@Walmart) February 28, 2018

Walmart’s Statement:

In a statement released on the supermarket giant’s website Walmart announced that:

In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales. Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age. We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change.

In 2015, Walmart ended sales of modern sporting rifles, including the AR-15. We also do not sell handguns, except in Alaska where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers. Additionally, we do not sell bump stocks, high-capacity magazines and similar accessories. We have a process to monitor our eCommerce marketplace and ensure our policies are applied.

We take seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms and go beyond Federal law by requiring customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm. The law would allow the sale of a firearm if no response to a background check request has been received within three business days, but our policy prohibits the sale until an approval is given.

In an extra step the company also confirmed that they will be “removing items from our website resembling assault-style rifles, including nonlethal airsoft guns and toys.” But the company was keen to stress that their ‘heritage’ has “always been in serving sportsmen and hunters, and we will continue to do so in a responsible way.”

Walmart’s Statement on their website.