A call for conversation about firearms

Wal-Mart has been a good corporate citizen in responding to concerns raised by South Bend Common Council members on gun sales.

It’s removed tactical shotguns from sale at its West Ireland Road store, is limiting the hours firearms will be sold there and has promised to investigate complaints that ammunition cases at the store have been left unlocked.

Wal-Mart doesn’t have to do these things. Restrictions on tactical weapons and display of ammunition were written into an agreement between the city and store before a state law passed in 2011 barring local government from regulating the sale of firearms.

Wal-Mart officials are showing they are sensitive to the wishes of our community not only by living up to their original pledge, but by going further. They say the weapons marketed as tactical shotguns are look-alikes, not the rapid fire weapons addressed in their deal with the city. The store’s new constricted hours for gun sales also weren’t part of the initial agreement.

It’s easy to see how this might improve safety and difficult to imagine that anything’s been lost with these accommodations.

Of course, there are other gun stores in the community with no such limitations in place and state lawmakers say the next General Assembly is likely to favor even less regulation.

Is that what you want?

Wal-Mart has opened a good conversation on firearms here. The discussion should spread throughout the state so that every Hoosier can weigh in.