Walmart will no longer sell short weapons or ammunition for them and asks customers not to bring weapons to stores

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(CNN) - Walmart announced Tuesday that it will reduce its sales of short weapons and ammunition for these firearms, a month after more than 20 people died in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. Walmart also pressured Congress to enact security measures with weapons.

The company, the largest retailer in the United States, said it will stop selling ammunition for firearms and ammunition for short-barrel rifles after selling all of its current inventory. Walmart will also stop selling guns in Alaska, the only state where it still did. And Walmart will request that customers no longer carry weapons openly to their 4,700 stores in the United States, or their Sam's Club stores, in the states that allow them to openly carry weapons.

However, Walmart will continue to sell long cannon rifles and shotguns and much of the ammunition for those weapons. Walmart will also continue to allow hidden transportation by customers with permits in their stores.

In a note to employees on Tuesday, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said Walmart's changes were triggered by the shooting in El Paso, Texas, as well as recent mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and Midland and Odessa , Texas.

"In a complex situation that lacks a simple solution, we are trying to take constructive measures to reduce the risk of events like these happening again," he said. "The status quo is unacceptable."

Walmart accounts for about 2% of the arms market today, the company said for the first time recently. Walmart believes that it is not among the top three arms sellers in the industry, but estimates that it has approximately a 20% share of the ammunition sales market.

On Tuesday, McMillon said Walmart's changes in ammunition policies will reduce its market share from around 20% to between 6% and 9%.

Walmart