COEUR d’ALENE — Fewer people are going to Wal-Mart for AR-15 rifles and other semi-automatic weapons, prompting the retailer to stop selling the products entirely.

But other stores in the region have seen an increase in demand for the weapons, and have no plans to eliminate their stock.   

Company spokesman Kory Lundberg said Wednesday that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will remove the remaining inventory as stores transition from summer to fall merchandise, which should take a week or two to complete.

Lundberg said the decision to remove the weapons was not political and was made earlier this year by the Bentonville, Ark.-based company.  

“It’s similar to what we do with any product,” Lundberg said. “Being what it is, it gets a little more attention, but it’s the same process for any other product.”

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