Wal-Mart becomes latest company to leave ALEC

"Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is withdrawing from the legislative group the American Legislation Exchange Council (ALEC), according to Think Progress. ALEC has come under scrutiny of late for its controversial policies regarding voter ID laws and looser firearm restrictions, like Flordia's "Stand Your Ground," a law that expanded the definition of acceptable force. Wal-Mart is the 19th company to drop out of ALEC or decine to renew its membership dues.

The move is seen as an especially critical departure in that Wal-Mart is the largest purveyor of firearms in the country. It is also the largest company to leave ALEC since an awareness and boycott effort was launched by the advocacy group Color of Change.

ALEC's embrace of harsh voter ID laws, laws that disproportionately affect poor and minority voters, as well as its pursuit of legislation like "Stand Your Ground" have sent many businesses running as the group's profile has risen. Most big corporations don't want to be associated with controversy, and controversies don't come much larger and more racially charged than the killing of teenager Trayvon Martin earlier this year, in which "Stand Your Ground" was cited by lawyers defending shooter George Zimmerman, Jr.."

rest at http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/31/wal-mart-becomes-latest-company-to-leave-alec/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29&utm_content=Google+Reader