Wal-Mart's Newest Lawsuit

A Wal-Mart in Las Cruses Nm is being sued for selling bullets to a man that allegedly later shot someone. Kenneth Rauch is accused of gunning down Eisedio Escobedo, 27 of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico At a gas station in Las Cruces on 4/25/05.

Escobedo's children, fiancée, and estranged wife file their lawsuit in State District court Monday.

It was sad what happened, but how is it Wal-Mart's fault? Wal-mart now has a policy governing sales of firearms, including background checks and determining if the customer is under the influence, but at the time of the sale to Rauch, there was no policy.

But, does that make them responsible for Rauch's actions? It is not as if he bought the gun that day, only shells. Rauch was of legal age to buy ammo.

In the lawsuit alleges that" Wal-Mart employees sold Ammunition to an unstable man, asking few, if any, questions."

So what, when you buy bullets the sales person is supposed to ask you if you "are going to shot someone with these?" NO. I know I do not want to answer 20 questions when I buy my bullets. What do they mean "unstable"? Being drunk is different then unstable.

I would just like to hear why the family thinks that Wal-mart owes them money for this. And, what is up with the estranged wife being in on the lawsuit? I guess his kids must be young so she has to do it under her name. Does a fiancée even have a leg to stand on? If she does not have any kids with Escobedo what is she really out, they weren't married. I know, I sound mean. But, I am not. I feel for them, losing someone they love. When you sue someone, it has nothing to do with feelings it is about the law, and law wise it is an iffy case. The shooting took place six hours after he bought the shells, a lot could have happened in six hours that Wal-mart could not control. The alleged shooter is in custody, Rauch is being held at the Las Vegas (N.M.) Medical Center, and awaiting trial, No date has been set.

Of course, Wal-mart has no comment about it, they say they have not seen the complaint yet. If I was Wal-mart I would not say anything either. Do not make this a TV trial, since Wal-mart is not everyone's favorite company right now.