# Target should sue Walmart because the bullseye is on WallyWorld **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 22, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174 "2004-12-22T16:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/41 "2004-12-23T01:34:17Z")
It’s just amusing to me that they will refuse to sell ‘smut’ yet will sell an instrument that is made to cause death. They make value judgements on what is or isn’t appropriate viewing or listening material, yet sell guns (which are designed to kill). As **harborwolf** said death/violence=good sex/boobies=bad > [@](#): > > If we were talking about sex and violence in movies and/or TV, that would be one thing, but the fact that WallyWorld sells guns and doesn’t sell FHM has nothing to do with that. I guess you don’t equate guns with violence or death. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/42 "2004-12-23T01:34:49Z")
> [@Gangster Octopus](#): > > I don’t understand why Wal\*Mart shouldn’t be allowed to sell guns when other are? I just think it’s strange that you can buy a gun at the same place where you can buy baby food and shoes and stuff. A gun is a serious purchase, and I don’t think people who haven’t been trained to peddle firearms should be allowed to sell them. Then again, maybe Walmart specially trains the people who work in the gun section, I don’t know about that. Turns out I was wrong about the background check, but perhaps someone who is more familiar with guns would have been more chatty with the woman, and asked her why she wanted a gun, and maybe that would have dissuaded her from buying it. Of course, that’s all conjecture. My uncle is a hunter, and he says he wouldn’t buy a gun at Walmart anyway. He says the clerks usually don’t know much about their own equipment beyond basic specs, and buying stuff there is as personal as buying a pack of gum. I’d be willing to bet that a lot of other hunters think the same. Stopping Walmart from selling guns wouldn’t be outlawing guns; it would just be acknowledging that guns are specialized tools that should only be sold by people very familiar with them. Granted, smaller gun stores wouldn’t be able to offer those low, low prices, but wouldn’t you want to buy something like a gun from an expert? Then again, I also think it’s strange that you can buy alcohol in regular stores in some states. But I don’t think beer is as much of a “specialty product” as a gun. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/43 "2004-12-23T01:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > **continuity error** said: > Granted, smaller gun stores wouldn’t be able to offer those low, low prices, but wouldn’t you want to buy something like a gun from an expert? In general I want to buy it from somewhere that I’m going to get a good price on it. Typically when I purchase a firearm, I already know exactly which one I want, and all the relevant technical information and specifications of that particular firearm, so it doesn’t matter to me what the salesperson knows about it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/44 "2004-12-23T01:44:54Z")
> [@biddee](#): > > I guess you don’t equate guns with violence or death. Not any more than I equate cars with traffic accidents or airplanes with terrorist attacks. I agree with **catsix** on the price of a gun purchase. I know what I want, and I know what it costs. I’ll buy it from whoever can deliver it the cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/45 "2004-12-23T01:49:05Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > Typically when I purchase a firearm, I already know exactly which one I want, and all the relevant technical information and specifications of that particular firearm, so it doesn’t matter to me what the salesperson knows about it. Yes, but not everyone researches in advance. I’d be willing to bet that there’s some people who just walk into a Walmart and look at the gun rack and go “ooh, shiny, I want that one!” when it might not be the best gun for them to have. And generally, it’s the people with less knowledge about guns that wind up causing the most fatalities. About the restrictions on gun purchases, is anyone who has ever been institutionalized restricted from buying a gun? Is there a time when the restriction expires? ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/46 "2004-12-23T01:51:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Not any more than I equate cars with traffic accidents or airplanes with terrorist attacks. That’s a bit of strange analogy. What do you use your guns for? Do you not shoot animals with your guns? Do your guns therefore not cause death? ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/47 "2004-12-23T01:58:43Z")
> [@biddee](#): > > That’s a bit of strange analogy. What do you use your guns for? Do you not shoot animals with your guns? Do your guns therefore not cause death? Well, that’s death of animals, not people, so unless you think shooting animals is a bad thing then the analogy makes sense. Hunting and target shooting are legitimate sports. ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/48 "2004-12-23T02:07:50Z")
> [@continuity eror](#): > > Well, that’s death of animals, not people, so unless you think shooting animals is a bad thing then the analogy makes sense. Hunting and target shooting are legitimate sports. I don’t necessarily think that the shooting of animals is a bad thing, in fact my brother in law is a professional hunter - yet I still equate guns with death and violence and so do many people I know. Case in point…the OP! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/49 "2004-12-23T02:21:43Z")
And I equate Brussel sprouts with violence and death. Doesn’t mean I’m right. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/50 "2004-12-23T02:35:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > And I equate Brussel sprouts with violence and death. Doesn’t mean I’m right. 😃 Oh you’re right! If anyone tries to serve me brussel sprouts, there will be violence and death! LOL 😃 UGH! I hate those things! ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/51 "2004-12-23T12:06:07Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > A kitchenware knife has multiple purposes, the greater majority of which is helpful. Sporting goods knives are, I assume (not being a hunter), used in hunting, which I have no problem with. > > Handguns have… uh… lemme think… a sole purpose which is to harm or maim or kill. Unless you use an unloaded handgun for a paperweight. I guess that could be helpful… > > Yeah, I hate handguns. And I realize that they will probably never be outlawed. So, with that in mind, they should be sold at a firearms shop. Not a fucking WalMart. 1. The girl purchased and killed herself with a shotgun. Not a handgun. Does Wal\*Mart sell handguns? I thought they only sold rifles & shotguns. 2. Wal\*Mart **is** a firearms shop. They sell firearms. What was your point? ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/52 "2004-12-23T13:07:34Z")
WalMart does not sell handguns. They do sell long guns, as well as a wide variety of other hunting supplies. They’re often the least expensive retailer for some of those items. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174/53 "2004-12-23T13:48:49Z")
This is a really stupid case. Even if Wal_mart had refused to sell her the gun based on the fact that she had a prescription filled (like a Wal_Mart clerk is supposed to be able to tell the names of anti-psychotic medication), she still could have legally purchased the weapon somewhere else. And even if she’d not been able to purchase a firearm, she’d of been able to kill herself some other way. Killing yourself is not that difficult. I agree with **Harborwolf**. the family is trying tell themselves (or get the courts to tell them) that it wasn’t their fault. Irony is it wasn’t their fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. But sadly, it feels better if you can blame someone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/target-should-sue-walmart-because-the-bullseye-is-on-wallyworld/281174.md?page=2)