Walmart Apologizes For ‘Back To School’ Gun Display
- Funny
- Offensive
Shots Fired On Twitter
August 10th, 2017 – If you’ve rounded up the 2 inch notebooks, pens, scissors and (for reasons still unclear) four glue sticks requested by your child’s teacher, Walmart has another item for you to consider purchasing. For a brief period of time, the retail giant was promoting guns as that final back-to-school shopping item.
“OWN THE SCHOOL YEAR LIKE A HERO” a sign reads atop a case full of firearms.
Writer Jordan Uhl was an early voice bringing the marketing juxtaposition to light. He tweeted a photo of the store set-up with a simple message: “Holy shit, WalMart.”
Holy shit, WalMart. pic.twitter.com/FiMdAms0c3
— jordan ?? (@JordanUhl) August 9, 2017
As the image began to gain traction, Walmart went on defense responding to hundreds of strong reactions online. They repeated a handful of apologies stressing that it was a “totally unacceptable error” and that they are “checking into how this could have happened.”
We definitely wouldn’t allow this to happen in our stores, Ashley. We’re looking into what occurred with this regrettable situation. -Toni
— Walmart (@Walmart) August 10, 2017
We’d never approve of signage being displayed in this manner in one of our stores and we’re looking into this, David. -Dean
— Walmart (@Walmart) August 10, 2017
Originally, Walmart had pinned down a store in Evansville, Indiana, but later announced that managers there could not identify that sign at their location. Speaking with CNN Money, spokesperson Charles Crowson said the company is “not happy” and “working diligently” to determine which location posted the sign and guarantee that it won’t be found mixing with the gun display again.
With an ongoing heightened sensitivity to mass school shootings and a likely never-ending debate over gun control, the Walmart scandal opened up even more conversations.
People began to push back on the question of whether or not Walmart should even be selling guns and how this will affect those who have experienced tragedies at school. While others argued that the outrage was overblown and that maybe it was a liberal who placed the sign and took the picture in order to fan the flames.
It’s cool, we ain’t that sensitive over here to be outraged by this. We appreciate the material for entertainment purposes though ??
— Miscommunication (@MiscomPodcast) August 9, 2017
Sorry enough to stop selling guns?
— melissaaw (@mawwahh) August 10, 2017
Thats exactly right , and as usual i would bet it’s the person taking the picture . The left does this stuff CONSTANTLY .
— Deplorable Rodent (@vhfancc) August 10, 2017
My mom taught at #SandyHook and saved the lives of 18 4th graders WITHOUT a gun. This sign at @Walmart is a gross and insulting suggestion. https://t.co/DBMqdg8Pev
— Ashley Cech (@AshleyCech) August 10, 2017
I’ve got no proof, just a gut feeling this whole WalMart sign fiasco was an engineered setup by #gunsense. Way too easy to plant/move.
— the Texan Gunslinger (@GunSlinger223) August 10, 2017
idk whats worse the sign or the fact that you can buy a gun @ walmart https://t.co/o0UYivfCNx
— louis elitist (@twoheartsIwt) August 10, 2017