Walmart recently said they will stop selling handgun and short barrel rifle ammunition, while requesting that customers not openly carry firearms in its stores, even where state law allow it.

They will stop selling ammunition such as the .223 caliber and 5.56 caliber used in military style weapons, until its current inventory runs out. They will also discontinue handgun sales in Alaska. Walmart stopped selling handguns in the mid-1990's, with the exception of Alaska. This latest move marks its complete exit from that business and allows it to focus on hunting rifles and related ammunition only.

The announcement comes just after a mass-shooting in Texas at a Walmart store. Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon said, “In a complex situation lacking a simple solution, we are trying to take constructive steps to reduce the risk, that events like these will not happen again.”

Walmart is further requesting that customers refrain from openly carrying firearms at its Walmart and Sam's Club stores, unless they are law enforcement officers. However, they say that they wouldn't be changing its policy for customers who have gun permits for concealed carry. Walmart says it will be putting up signs in their stores to inform customers of those changes.

Walmart's stores will reduce its market share of ammunition from around 20 percent to a range of 6 to 9 percent. About half of its 4,750 U.S. stores sell firearms or around two percent of all U.S. firearms. Most firearms sales are done through thousands of unaffiliated gun shops or gun shows, not by big retail chains.

The NRA posted a tweet attacking Walmart's announcement, it stated, “It is shameful to see Walmart succumb to the pressure of the anti-gun elites. Lines at Walmart will soon be replaced by lines at other retailers who are more supportive of America's fundamental freedoms.”

A Successful

DEP Cleanup Day!

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced that hundreds of volunteers collected an estimated 4,675 pounds of trash and recyclables during Reservoir Cleanup Day, making it the largest haul since the annual event began six years ago. A total of 350 volunteers participated. The effort to cleanup watershed shorelines was led by school groups, environmental advocates, business leaders, local nonprofits and watershed citizens.

DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said, “We are fortunate to work with these people who share our goal of protecting natural resources in the watershed. The results from our cleanup event each year underscore the need for steady education. Too many people are still carelessly disposing their garbage. DEP is committed to working with our partners to teach the concept of leaving no trace, and promote an outdoor ethic that values our lands and waters.”

Jack Danchak is the President of the Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs of Sullivan County.