Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I am really surprised at many of the responses in this thread.
First, we elect representatives at the local, state and national levels to set policies for what is and is not permissible. Our Constitution doesn't empower Walmart to make those decisions.
Second, does anyone really want to go down the road of allowing corporate entities to set public policy?
I find it hard to imagine that anyone does.
If we do need some changes in the legal basis for buying and owning firearms, and I think we do, then this should be something decided in a national debate and not by the actions of large retailers.
Retailers should play no role at all in establishing public policy in any free nation.
I don't think that retailers have any legal right to set minimum age requirements beyond those set in actual law and I suspect we'll see these backed off over the nest fortnight or so.
The NRA will not allow this sort of false assertion of legal authority to stand and these retailers are not about to face off against NRA in court and I also doubt that Walmart is going to stand firm against a national boycott by NRA members since they are a major part of Wally's target market, pun not intended.
In before the lock!
Anyway, found a few links that may answer the question. They may be on sold legal grounds as long as it doesn't conflict with state or local laws. Some states like Connecticut already set an age limit. The ones that don't may not have any laws that prevent age discrimination against the young. The age discrimination laws out there seem apply to the elderly, not the young. So I guess that's why movie theaters can limit who goes in to see a movie. Also the constitution applies to the government, not private businesses so they also have some leeway as to how they want to conduct business. That's why private companies can fire you if they don't like what you say, your freedom of speech is only from the government.
Anyway, will be interesting to see what actually happens. I think the stores have a lot of current leeway now, there are those out there that have a no shirts no shoes no service policy. And then there are others that say that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason. I think it will probably be a state/local law thing unless something happens on the federal level. Some states may want to pass laws that require them to sell to 18 year olds so while corporate may have a national policy, it would be different for that particular state/local law.
Supreme court has yet to rule on whether the bakers can discriminate or not. That other ruling was a local court which may get overruled depending on how the supreme court rules.
http://www.wate.com/news/local-news/law-...o-21/1001671053
https://reason.com/volokh/2018/02/28/can-gun-stores-refuse-to-sell-rifles-and