Getty Images | Mario Tama

Walmart Is Enforcing Its New 'No Open Carry' Policy And Video Proves It

Updated September 8, 2021

When news broke that Walmart and other major retailers would be discouraging their customers from openly carrying firearms in their stores following a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, reactions ranged from applause to outrage.

Many gun rights supporters decried the move, and some have tried to test Walmart's resolve by bringing their weapons into the stores to see what happens. A group in Texas, for example, says its members all openly carried guns inside Walmart after their request went public, and none were asked to leave, according to The Hill.

However, Jake Aaron Adkins of Kentucky might be the first to have Walmart enforce its new store policy against him.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

Adkins recently entered a Walmart in Lexington with a gun strapped to his waist and filmed himself on Facebook Live as he waited around in the store's sporting goods section.

He was apparently trying to draw attention to the unmanned counter there, which he said was unsafe.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

"I carry for a reason in Walmart because of the past issues, and if anyone was to pull a gun I would drop them dead in their tracks," he said.

Soon after Adkins ended his Facebook Live video, the police showed up.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

And at that point, Adkins' friend started recording the proceedings to post on Facebook.

One of the five Lexington police officers told Adkins that "you're not in trouble with us. You haven't committed any crimes." However, after consulting with the store's management, the officers served Adkins with a "no trespass."

Another officer approached with a form for Adkins to sign.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

That formalized Adkins' banning from all Walmarts and Sam's Clubs across the nation, for life, for flouting the new policy. In his Facebook post accompanying the second video, Adkins writes, "BANNED FROM WALMART for life for my last live video!!! Of some liberal complaints! Cops Agreed I did nothing wrong."

He didn't leave his message at that, though.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

He added that "Walmart and other liberals didn’t like my video and didn’t like that I was caring a firearm And didn’t respect my second Amendment!"

However, one of the police officers on the scene pointed out that a reaction should not have been surprising.

Facebook | Jake Aaron Adkins

"Dude, do you know what's going on in the world?" the officer asked. "We just had people get killed in a Walmart in a mass shooting."

Adkins later maintained that "I could have been the next man to stop a violent crime in a Walmart in my town."

People on both sides of the gun rights debate have latched onto Adkins' video.

Reddit | whitemike40

The group Dads On Duty Survival, which is firmly against Walmart's new policy, shared it with their Facebook followers, and it has received millions of views and 30,000 comments since.

Others, however, were more encouraged by the response Adkins received than dismayed.

Moms Demand founder Shannon Watts shared the video on Twitter, saying she was "Grateful @Walmart is enforcing its new policy to prohibit open carry."

Walmart has not commented on Adkins' video.

h/t: heavy

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