Walmart Removing Ads For Violent Games, Movies Following El Paso And Dayton Shootings

In response to the shootings at El Paso and Dayton, Walmart has decided to take down displays of violent video games.

The decision was revealed by Walmart employees who had received a memo from its corporate headquarters. The memo asked employees to remove “signing and displays referencing violence” across stores’ video game, movie, and hunting sections. It will require employees to remove signage promoting these materials, along with removing violent content from video game demo stations and display TVs.

Some employees started sharing the memo after receiving, which subsequently appeared on twitter.

“We've taken this action out of respect for the incidents of the past week, and this action does not reflect a long-term change in our video game assortment,” Walmart spokeswoman Tara House said.

This comes after President Trump and several members of the Republican Party going after violent media as a possible cause for both shootings. However, previous studies have shown there is no correlation between violent media and causing violent urges.

The decision also comes after a statement made by Walmart CEO Doug McMillon addressing the shootings that took place in Texas and Ohio.

“We will work to understand the many important issues that arise from El Paso and Southaven, as well as those that have been raised in the broader national discussion around gun violence,” McMillion wrote in a statement to employees.

And while it will be taking down promotional materials deemed “violent,” it will continue to sell guns and ammunition. Walmart has changed its policy regarding guns and stopped selling select weapons, like assault rifles, following events like the Parkland shooting, but remains adamant that guns will remain in stock.