This, and they are going to get sued big time.
Wait until a 20 year old women comes in to buy a home defense shotgun, they refuse and she is attacked later. I hope she owns Walmart or LL bean.
Legally, there would be no basis for a suit in such a situation. You have significant issues with duty, breach and causation in your hypothetical. As stupid, asinine, and ludicrous as these decisions are, they are business decisions. The marketplace should punish these poor decisions. However, that will require gun owners and conservatives to put our money where our mouth is. Idle threats to sue when no basis would exist wont change the minds of these corporate demons.
MY Guess is this is risk-management and insurance companies weighing in.