Big Brother Sam: Wal-Mart to videotape gun buyers

In a recent outdoors column, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review asked if America's largest retailer is getting out of the hunting and fishing business.

Wal-Mart may not think so, but that's really up to their customers to decide, now that they have announced a partnership with the anti-gun extremist and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to video-tape and keep records on gun buyers.

Earlier this year, Wal-Mart told fishing tackle suppliers that their gear -- like fabrics and other "rural products" -- might be removed from some stores altogether, or at least be stocked only seasonally.

That doesn't mean Wal-Mart is getting out of the fishing business, company executives said. Nor is the company turning its back on hunters, they added.

But recently, Wal-Mart joined New York mayor Michael Bloomberg at a gathering of his group, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to announce a series of changes to the way the company handles firearm transactions.

In the future, firearm purchases at Wal-Mart will involve a video record of the sale, which the store will keep on file as a database of gun buyers. Employees also will be given the discretion to deny firearms sales to anyone who's had a firearm traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for any reason.

The newspaper goes on to say that it's unclear as to whether the cost of the new video system will be pushed onto arms and ammunition makers or consumers.

"Unclear?" By no means. ALL business expenses are paid for by the consumer. So yes, Mr. Wal-Mart gun or ammo buyer, not only are you going to be video-taped like some drug dealer on an urban street corner, you will helping to pay for Mr. Bloomberg's cameras.

The questions that need to be asked by gun and ammo buyers are these:

1) What self-respecting gun or ammunition manufacturer would willingly allow Wal-Mart to carry their products?

and
2) What self-respecting gun or ammunition buyer would choose Wal-Mart when in the market for these goods?

The newspaper notes that hunters and shooters interested in contacting Wal-Mart about the change may call Wal-Mart 800-925-6278 or go online at www.walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx.

Related Links:
Bloomberg Strikes Deal With Wal-Mart on Guns

Wal-Mart Will Stop Selling Guns in a Third of Its U.S. Stores