Military stores pull high-capacity ammunition magazines from shelves

The PX department stores that serve military families and veterans at installations around the world have pulled high-capacity ammunition magazines from their shelves.

Magazines with a capacity of 11 rounds and higher have been removed from all Exchange AAFES stores.

The decision comes on the heels of similar actions by retailers in response to the deadly Parkland, Florida, school shooting. Walmart, Kroger's Fred Meyer stores and Dick's Sporting Goods have banned gun and ammo sales to people younger than 21. Dick's additionally ended the sale of assault-style rifles.

But AAFES says its decision was about ending a longstanding gap between product lines.

"The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has merchandised high-capacity magazines (sold separately) primarily as a result of vendor recommendations to offer the original equipment typically sold with certain firearms," according to a statement from AAFES.

"As a result of a recent review, a decision has been made to discontinue the sale of these products (magazines that are sold separately) at the Exchange," the statement said.

"The military exchanges' merchandising strategies and product lines are unique and soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen are encouraged to cross-shop each exchange. The Exchange and MCX (Marine Corps Exchange) policies align on magazines sold separately over a capacity of 11 rounds."

When asked specifically whether the decision was connected the Parkland school shooting, Judd Anstey, vice president for corporate communication at AAFES, told USA TODAY Network, "I honestly could not attribute it to any event."

"This is a category that obviously we're constantly looking at and reviewing," Anstey said. They discovered the longstanding gap between the AAFES and MCX product lines and decided to address it.

On Wednesday, the Exchange Facebook page lit up with complaints about the decision, accompanied by a photo of empty shelves and a posted sign.

The sign says, "Ammo clips, magazines and accessories policy update: The Exchange and MCX will no longer sell magazines and clips with a capacity of 11 rounds or higher. These items are no longer available in store or online at shopmyexchange.com; this includes marketplace vendors such as Sportsman's Guide and the RSR website."

A letter obtained by a customer from Exchange Retail Communications, posted March 5, restates that policy and gives a list of items to remove from the shelves, including ammo magazines and accessories. It also gives instructions on rearranging products to fill the shelves that are left empty.

Reach Chris Smith at chrissmith@theleafchronicle.com, 931-245-0282 or on Twitter @cssmithwrites.