Walmart bans video game adverts after El Paso shooting but will continue to sell guns

‘Review your store for any signing or displays that contain violent images,’ retailer tells staff

Walmart is removing video game displays and adverts containing violent imagery from its stores, in the aftermath of the El Paso shooting.

The company, which is the biggest retailer in the US, will continue selling guns. Walmart also allows people to openly carry firearms in stores.

A notice informing staff of the display changes was circulated this week.

“Immediate action,” the document reads.

“Review your store for any signing or displays that contain violent images or aggressive behaviour.

“Turn off or unplug any video game display consoles that show a demo of violent games.

“Cancel any events prompting combat style or third-person shooter games that may be scheduled in Electronics.”

Walmart also instructs store managers to switch off violent films and hunting season videos and to remove adverts for video games deemed inappropriate.

“We’ve taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and this action does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment,” a Walmart spokesperson said.

The retailer is one of the biggest gun sellers in the world.

It has been heavily criticised for continuing to sell guns after an armed man entered one of its stores in El Paso, killing 22 people and wounding more than two dozen on Saturday.

The gunman allegedly posted an anti-immigrant screed online before the shooting.

The massacre occurred less than a week after a separate shooting on 30 July at a Walmart store in Mississippi. A disgruntled employee shot and killed two colleagues and wounded a police officer during the attack.

Walmart has said it will continue to sell guns and maintain open carry policies in stores.

“We are a learning organisation, and, as you can imagine, we will work to understand the many important issues that arise from El Paso and Southaven, as well as those that have been raised in the broader national discussion around gun violence,” said Doug McMillon, the company’s CEO.

“We will act in a way that reflects the best values and ideals of our company, with a focus on serving the needs of our customers, associates and communities.”

Gun control advocates are campaigning to alter the company’s stance.

“[Walmart] built a thriving business in America. It has a responsibility to give back by protecting customers & employees from gun violence,” said Igor Volsky, founder of Guns Down America.

“It must ... stop selling guns until we raise [the] standard of gun ownership. There’s no correlation between video games & real world violence.

“Meanwhile, people who have access to a gun are more than [18 times] as likely to threaten someone, compared with those without gun access.”