Philadelphia, September 3, 2019 – Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5th District) issued the following statement on the announcement that Walmart will stop selling handgun ammunition in all its stores nationally.
“I commend Walmart for its decision to stop selling handgun ammunition as well as short-barrel rifle ammunition that can be used in large-capacity clips on semi-automatic weapons,” Council President Clarke said today.
“There is far too much gun violence in our cities and towns, including here in Philadelphia, where eight more people were shot and two more were killed just last weekend,” Clarke said. “Given our own ongoing working relationship with Walmart, I know the company takes its role as a corporate citizen seriously. I support their announcement today. As their CEO said in a statement to their employees, the status quo is unacceptable.”
Council President Clarke and City Council have made gun violence prevention and public safety priority issues in Philadelphia. Last month, Council President Clarke and state legislators announced legislation to prohibit firearms at city recreation centers and playgrounds, where gun violence has occurred this summer.
In June, Council President Clarke introduced other gun violence prevention legislation that Council will take up on its return this fall. Council also held a special committee hearing on gun violence and public safety led by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, and Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. convened a community meeting on gun violence following a shooting incident at a city recreation center this summer.
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