Was it a good move? Customers, competition react to gun sale changes

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Dicks Sporting Goods and Walmart have changed who they sell guns and ammunition to. Both stores raised their age limits to 21 years old in the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting.

WWAY decided to reach out to customers and their competition in our area to get reaction to this announcement.

“I see no problems at all with moving the gun age up to 21,” says gun shop owner Dane Britt.

Britt’s gun and ammo shop, DB Gun and Ammo, sits across the road from a Wal-Mart superstore.

“With the big box stores taken out of the equation,number one I think small business can prosper but not only that,” Britt said. “Taking out the monetary equation, going into the moral equation I think we can keep a better eye on who’s getting these sort of things, who’s buying these sort of guns.”

He sees the new policies by Wal-Mart and Dick’s Sporting Goods to not sell guns and ammo to those under 21 as a step in the right direction. Britt himself has turned away customers he felt did not need a gun.

“Me being in a small shop like this I can be more intimate and have conversations with people,” said Britt.

Customers were split, some in favor of it, concerned about the vulnerabilities the recent school shooting showed.

“I’m really concerned for my granddaughter going to kindergarten after all of the shootings that’s going on,” said Natalie Wood.

Others thinking it’s not the right move. They’d like to see Wal-Mart promote more classes for gun safety.

“I think it’s a step in the wrong direction,” said Ben Herring. “Because access to guns and firearms is important for people to learn about firearms.”

Customers at Dick’s Sporting Goods thought the change was sensible.

Britt like other shops we talked to do not think it will boost business. If it does bring more people into his shop – he plans to make sure every customer checks out.

“I don’t know if Walmart and Dicks making their decisions will make that much of a difference but obviously we hope so.”

Wal-Mart’s age limit was not the only change, three years ago they barred assault type rifles, now they are taking down toy or air pellet guns that even resemble them.