Walmart raises minimum age for gun purchases to 21

Walmart announced Wednesday it would no longer sell firearms or ammunition to anyone younger than 21 years old. “In light of recent events, we’ve taken an opportunity to review our policy on firearm sales,” the retailer announced in a statement. “We take seriously our obligation to be a responsible seller of firearms.” Walmart’s policy change came hours after Dick’s Sporting Goods said it would raise the gun purchasing age at its stores to 21 and stop selling assault-style weapons in response to last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead. Walmart said it has not sold “modern sporting rifles” such as the AR-15 used in Parkland since 2015: “We also do not sell handguns, except in Alaska, where we feel we should continue to offer them to our customers.” Dick’s is the nation’s largest sporting goods retailer and Walmart is the largest retailer in the world. U.S. law allows those 18 and older to buy rifles, but requires individuals be at least 21 to purchase handguns. President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday he supports raising the minimum age to 21 for rifle purchases—a move not supported by the National Rifle Association.