HollyMatkinCincinnati, OH – The Kroger supermarket chain has announced that it will no longer stock publications that feature “assault rifles” in any of its stores.
Implementation of the new policy has already begun, Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said on Friday, according to USA Today.
The nationwide retailer didn’t specifically name which magazines it planned to omit from its shelves, nor did it explain how it planned to screen for banned content.
“We regularly review the company’s assortment of periodicals and make merchandising decisions based on customer preferences,” Howard said.
The announcement came less than a month after Kroger said it would no longer sell firearms or ammunition to anyone under the age of 21 at any of its 45 Fred Meyer stores, CNN reported.
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The stores are located in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, according to the Dayton Daily News.
The company cited the Feb. 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, which left 17 dead and 16 wounded, as the catalyst for the new policies.
“In response to the tragic events in Parkland and elsewhere, we’ve taken a hard look at our policies and procedures for firearm sales,” Kroger said in a statement, according to CNN. “Recent events demonstrate the need for additional action on the part of responsible gun retailers.”
The company said that the gun departments at some of the Fred Meyers stores are also being reduced “due to softer demand and changing customer preferences.”
“We believe these are common sense steps we can take immediately that are in line with our values and our vision,” Kroger said, according to CNN.