Walmart has consented to a $16,000 penalty for dispatching realistic toy firearms to New York, contravening state legislation, as announced by Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday.
The prohibition on such toy guns, enacted in 2015, followed the tragic incident in which Cleveland police fatally shot 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was holding a pellet gun in November 2014. In response, several retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, and Sears, agreed to cease selling these items within the state.
According to American Military News, New York's law explicitly prohibits the sale or shipment of toy guns that are black, dark blue, silver, or aluminum, resembling actual firearms. Instead, toy guns must be vividly colored or constructed entirely from transparent or translucent materials.
"Realistic-looking toy guns can put communities in serious danger and that is why they are banned in New York," James stated. She further emphasized, "Walmart failed to prevent its third-party sellers from selling realistic-looking toy guns to New York addresses, violating our laws and putting people at risk. The ban on realistic-looking toy guns is meant to keep New Yorkers safe and my office will not hesitate to hold any business that violates that law accountable."
The state's investigation revealed that third-party vendors exploited Walmart's online platform to distribute the prohibited toys, which were subsequently shipped to locations in New York City, Westchester, and Western New York.
Consequently, Walmart is obliged to pay $14,000 in penalties and an additional $2,000 in fees as part of a settlement with the state.
Kelly Hellbusch, Walmarts senior manager of global communications, affirmed the company's dedication to legal compliance, stating, "We are committed to complying with all laws, and we have processes in place to ensure products offered for sale by third-party sellers on our marketplace comply with all applicable laws as well."
This incident underscores the importance of stringent adherence to state regulations to safeguard communities and uphold public safety.
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