The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries this week scheduled a hearing in November to decide whether Walmart violated a teenager’s rights by refusing to sell her a gun.
The agency decided there was enough evidence to let the complaint advance, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. In November, the complaint will be heard and an administrative law judge will decide whether Walmart violated any laws.
The case stems from an 18-year-old woman, Hannah Brumbles, who filed a complaint after she was not allowed to buy a rifle at Walmart, according to the Willamette Week. She complained in April that the store discriminated against her, as it’s legal for people over 18 years old to purchase firearms in the state.
Brumbles was one of three Oregon teenagers to file complaints, charging stores violated the state constitution by engaging in age discrimination, according to the report. The other two complaints were reportedly withdrawn.
Walmart, along with other retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kroger, stopped selling guns to people under 21 years old this year following the mass shooting in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Seventeen students and staff members died, and another 17 were injured in the school shooting by a 19-year-old former student.
Walmart said it was ready to defend its policy decision.
“In February of this year, we reviewed our policy on firearm and ammunition sales and as a result, we raised the age restriction for the purchase of those items to 21,” the company said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “We stand behind our decision and plan to defend it. We are preparing for the November hearing before the administrative law judge.”
This story was corrected to note that the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has not yet decided the case, but did grant a hearing for the complaint this week.
