Men openly carrying weapons asked to leave Walmart in Mississippi

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Three men were asked to leave a Walmart in Mississippi after entering the store openly carrying weapons.

Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton told The Commercial Dispatch the men entered the store located on U.S. Highway 45 around 10 p.m. One man was carrying an M4 rifle and wearing a tactical vest. One man carried a handgun. The other man had a machete.

A Walmart employee called police. After officers arrived, the store management asked the men to leave. Shelton said the men left without incident. No arrest were made.

Chief Shelton said the men never threatened anyone.

The men claimed to be observing open carry by taking the weapons into the store. Chief Shelton said they claimed to be transient workers on a job in Columbus who decided "to go shopping."

"I don't know why they decided to go shopping dressed like that," he said.

Shelton said Mississippi is one of 45 state that allow the open carry of firearms. However, businesses can still prohibit weapons on their property.

The Columbus Walmart does not have a sign prohibiting weapons posted at any of its entrances, but Chief Shelton said that does not matter.

"Businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone bringing weapons in," Shelton said. "Any time anybody goes into a store that is privately owned, they're going as a guest."

Shelton advised anyone who sees a person carrying a weapon to call police and let officers determine if there is a threat.

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