Gun sales policies could influence lawmakers

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ)- More companies, including Kroger owned Fred Meyer stores, have announced they’ll only allow people over the age of 21 to buy guns. Do not expect people boycotting one of those stores to hold out for long.

Business professor Christopher Bollinger says consumers have relatively short memories.

“When this policy has been in effect for six months and the next issue du jour has come up, people are going to forget,” Bollinger said.

Politics could see a longer term change.

“Politicians have to think about something for years and years and years before they can do it and even then it’s not clear they can, right? I mean, we all know it’s a mess. Businesses can make decisions on the turn of a dime often,” Bollinger said.

Sometimes those decisions can lead to bigger change because businesses have influence. Bollinger says lawmakers are often reluctant to restrict businesses if they can’t see a clear benefit, but if several companies make a policy change, it can make it easier for politicians to do the same.

“If the firms do it, it’s possible lawmakers will say, ‘Great, we’ll pass it,’ because then they can go home and say, ‘Look, we passed this law,'” Bollinger said.

That’s likely not the goal for CEOs though. Bollinger says choosing to make a statement is genuine, but businesses is business, and companies will do what will make money.