“The Status Quo Is Unacceptable”: Walmart and the Debate on Gun Control

This case focuses on the rising trend of CEO activism, especially as it relates to business extending its impact on democracy. The case centers on the contentious political issues of gun violence, gun rights, and gun control. Students will follow the protagonist and develop strategies to support Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, who took a stance on gun control by reducing gun and ammunition sales after a mass shooting in 2019 at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. Building on CEO activism, the case also focuses on further steps that corporations can take to influence public policy.

Supplemental Module: Role Play Simulation: To enhance your students’ learning experience, instructors may want consider a supplemental role play simulation module, designed to accompany this case study, powered by ViewPoint Simulations. ViewPoint is a platform for running customized, hands-on, multi-player, role playing simulations. It promotes engaged learning by immersing students in a scenario which can be implemented in either remote or in-person settings. Learn more here. Please note ViewPoint is not part of WDI Publishing and its products are managed and sold via a third-party provider.

• Identify ways that large companies can act unilaterally to take a stand on divisive political issues.
• Weigh the nuances of corporations taking unilateral action in the political space as opposed to building coalitions with other companies or working with the government to bring about change.
• Evaluate the business (profit) and moral sides of Walmart’s decision to stop selling all handguns and handgun ammunition and ask customers to avoid “open carry” in all stores.
• Determine viable courses of action that a corporation can take in the political sphere to bring about change.
• Analyze the validity of a corporation taking political stances and learn various criteria for what level of involvement a corporation should have for issues that affect it directly or indirectly.