Walmart to Remove Violent Video Game Ads in Response to Recent Mass Shootings
American superstore Walmart has reacted to the recent mass shootings in El Paso, which took place in a Walmart, and Dayton by announcing they will take down in-store advertisements for violent video games. However, they will continue to sell the video games, as well as guns and ammunition.
Advertisements for violent video games will sometimes have demo displays where customers can try the games. CNN has speculated that Walmart customers may be particularly susceptible to the sounds of gunshots considering the recent El Paso shooting and another shooting which took place in a Walmart in Mississippi. Walmart assured customers, "We’ve taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and it does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment."
This move was, to put it lightly, not well-received. Many social media users have not bought the recent attack on video games pushed by conservative politicians who have been arguing violent video games are a cause of mass shootings. Furthermore, many felt Walmart removing violent video game advertisements was a far less thoughtful move than removing the actual guns they sell.
Walmart has removed videogames from their shelves because “they cause gun violence” but they will not stop selling guns or ammunition.Fuck you
Walmart</a> <br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottWalmart?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottWalmart</a></p>— David Leavitt (David_Leavitt) August 9, 2019
@Walmart, my daughter did not die in Parkland because of video games. She died because of weapons and ammunition that was available for purchase in Walmart. Stop hiding behind made up issues and come to grips with the reality of your role in gun violence.https://t.co/sQeTADKkFW
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) August 9, 2019
You removed violent video games @Walmart but you sell actual guns? Im sorry but im going to have to join the other Billions of gamers world wide & #BoycottWalmart! pic.twitter.com/eUmdi1SkwE
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) August 9, 2019
The New York Times pulled a quote from an anonymous Walmart manager who stated, “It’s kind of funny that we can still sell firearms, but we can’t show pictures of a cartoon character holding a gun.”
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Hulks Stand is The Hulk
Just gonna drop on by to point out Wal-mart doesn't sell semi-autos like AR15s or handguns, and haven't for a while. They sell hunting rifles and shotguns for bird hunting and that's about it.
greenhowie
I rarely say this, but I'm amazed KYM was allowed to post this. Conspiracy theories -1
UnKewln00b
Went to Walmart today. Can confirm that this big poster they had for the Upcoming Call of Duty that was there last week is now gone.
However, the rifle section is doing just fine! Saw someone talking with a cashier to make a purchase, just swell!
HelifIgno
New media will always get the blame because people refuse to be educated and rather parrot the opinions of others (That's the theme for a lot of problems). Some examples…
-Cameras were accused of stealing peoples souls.
-Since the 1920s every new genre of music has been the "Devils Music!" or "It will corrupt our kids!".
-Before Violent Video games it was Violent Movies and before movies people use to destroy books.
I am sure there are other examples but that's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Rainbow Crash
Until gaming companies form a body and just start pumping more money to politicians than NRA, we will not be rid of the misdirection I bet.
HelifIgno
As someone who has been in the industry, I can tell you that won't happen. How do you regulate that? Does a company like EA have more say because they have more money? What about indies, do they get a voice? Is it publishers only or any studio that made something in RPG maker?
Do we also include Adult games? Does that include stuff that was made for Adobe Flash Player? What about companies that break laws in other countries (Violence, Hate Symbols from certain groups in WW2, etc)?
The best way to combat ignorance is not by increasing bureaucracy but instead educating people (respectfully and tactfully, not with memes). Hell the Furries got an Arizona Senator to adopt a Fursona, why the heck can't we do it?
Nilithius
They already have. It's the Entertainment Software Association.
"Boyd said that when it comes to lobbying, the "main industry group" that individual companies defer to is the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which spent $4.83 million on its own in 2012 -- more than Facebook, Google, or even the National Rifle Association (NRA)"
https://www.nbcnews.com/technology/call-duty-maker-gears-against-violent-video-games-bill-8C11124802
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000025695
>As someone who has been in the industry, I can tell you that won't happen.
I find it hard to believe an "industry insider" wouldn't know about the ESA.
HelifIgno
I didn't want to comment on the ESA because its not really that great, in fact that's part of why I said what I said. The ESA is great… if you are a big publisher / developer like EA or Ubisoft but they have meddled with smaller devs in favor of bigger devs.
I mean I am not gonna crap all over them because they do have good intentions but they listen to where the money is. That's all I really am going to say about that.
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Red123
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL PUTTING A BAND-AID ON A BULLET WOUND
OurDeerLeader
God bless America!
BrentD15
That's just depressing.
Daretobestupid
I really hope whoever thought pairing that sign and that gun case was a good idea, even if it was just a generic sign for school supplies, got in trouble for that.
Nebula96
I want to say that a customer set the sign on the gun rack as a joke, but I don't know anymore
Evilthing
Who else thinks that those who don't like their children playing violent video games have played violent video games themselves as a kid?
OurDeerLeader
nah, those people are normies
the most hard-core thing they ever played was Tetris, and they probably already blamed that one of causing rape and terrorism
IG_42
I would assume people just claimed they were financing communism since it's got all those Russian influences.
Greatnik
Gumshoe
There's way more political pressure from mom's against guns than against video games though, so that doesn't even really make sense.