(Reuters) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world’s largest retailer and biggest seller of firearms in the United States, is dropping out of a conservative advocacy group in the United States that has been criticized for promoting “Stand Your Ground” gun laws.<\/p>\n
Wal-Mart was suspending its membership in the American Legislative Council (ALEC), which the retailer joined in 1993, the company said late on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Other groups that have backed away from supporting ALEC, include Coca-Cola Co, Kraft Foods Inc, McDonald’s Corp, Procter & Gamble Co and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.<\/p>\n
The move by Wal-Mart comes more than a month after ALEC abandoned its committee that worked on “public safety and elections” to focus on the economy.<\/p>\n
ALEC had come under criticism for its support of “Stand Your Ground” gun laws, such as the “self defense” law under scrutiny in the Florida shooting that killed unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February.<\/p>\n