Dick's and Walmart face ageism lawsuits over gun-selling policy

Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart are facing lawsuits filed by an Oregon man who hasn't yet turned 21, the age that these companies now require a rifle buyer to be to make the purchase. This is in spite of federal law that has the minimum age of purchasing a rifle to be 18.

Tyler Watson, 20, filed suits against both retailers after they refused to sell him a rifle.

The Associated Press reports:

Tyler Watson's lawsuits filed against the retailers in two separate counties claim he faced age discrimination from Dick's and Walmart, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported The policies enacted on Feb. 28

The lawsuit claims a store owned by Dick's Sporting Goods in Medford, Oregon, refused to sell Watson .22-caliber Ruger rifle on Feb. 24. The suit says Grants Pass Walmart in Oregon refused to sell him a gun on March 3.

Watson's attorney, Max Whittington, made it clear that his client was not looking for notoriety by filing a lawsuit, saying he "was really just trying to buy a rifle."

Watson is asking for judges to force Dick's Sporting Goods and Walmart "to stop unlawfully discriminating against 18, 19, and 20-year-old customers at all Oregon locations."

Dick's didn't respond to requests for comment but Walmart intends to fight the suit.

"We stand behind our decision and plan to defend it," the Walmart virtue-signaler said. "While we haven't seen the complaint, we will respond as appropriate with the court."

I think if Christians can be forced to bake a cake for a gay wedding, selling a rifle to an 18-year-old is a no brainer. In the first case, a person's religious beliefs are being abused by the buyer; in the second case, the buyer's rights are being abused



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