SOUTH BEND – A Walmart store on South Bend's south side has come under fire for selling tactical guns.
Selling those guns violates a 2011 agreement the store, located at 700 West Ireland Road, had with the South Bend City Council limiting firearms sold there to rifles and shotguns used only for hunting or target practice.
A Walmart flyer promoting the sale of those guns raised concerns.
A circular flyer for the Ireland Road Store says, "All the hunting gear you'll need."
But some would argue that a photo of a semi-automatic rifle with a 30-round magazine clip goes well beyond normal hunting gear.
Citizens United for Better Government saw the flyer and another one like it and raised concerns over public safety to the South Bend City Council. Members of the group say they have monitored the store and that it was selling tactical guns it shouldn't, that weapons were not stored behind locked doors and that ammunition was out in the open.
"The glass (display) door did not have a lock on it," says Reverend Greg Brown, member of CUBG.
The "Plan of Operation" agreement adopted by the council on June 13, 2011, between the Council and the store, indicates NO tactical guns were to be sold and that all guns and ammunition, other than shotgun shells, would be kept in locked display cases.
Last week, Councilmen Oliver Davis sent a letter to Walmart officials asking them to address those concerns. Yesterday, Davis, Council Attorney Kathy Cekanski-Farrand and Walmart attorneys, along with Walmart's ATF Compliance Senior Director spoke in a half hour long conference call.
"I can see that what they've done so far they have been willing to make adjustments," added Davis who is pleased the company agreed quickly to make changes.
In order to address safety concerns raised Walmart has removed any firearm with a tactical label and has blocked any shipments of that type of gun to the store.
In addition, Walmart voluntarily limited the sale of firearms and ammunition to between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Reverend Brown says he's not against the right to bear arms but hopes for the communities sake Walmart sticks to its new policies.
"We have too many people in this community come up laying on the pavement."
Brown says his group plans on visiting the Walmart store often to make sure they are in compliance.
