The lending arm of General Electric, GE Capital, cut off funding to retail owners whose main business venture is to sell guns.
Dozens of retailers have lost their financing, The New York Times reported. A spokesman for GE said the loss hits less than 1 percent of American gun retailers, though. The company said the cut-off was due to “industry changes, new legislation and tragic events,” and expands on a policy put in place in 2008. Then, the company said it would quit offering financing for gun shop purchases, but would keep in place and grandfather existing agreements.
Company spokesman Russell Wilkerson said in The Times report that the financing change only applies to businesses that sell primarily guns — and not to businesses that sell guns as well as plenty of other products.
For instance, Mr. Wilkerson said in The Times report, Walmart would still be eligible for GE Capital funding.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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