The WallyWorld Walk.
Reader Reeeetired mentioned this in a comment: “I remember when Walmart was the place to go to check if one was printing.”
Ladies and gentlemen, an oldie but goodie from the past: The Wally World Walk.
I am going to copy/paste Grok because it has a petty decent summary of the concept.
The WallyWorld conceal carry Walk (also called the Wally Walk, Walmart Walk, or simply the “Wally World Walk”) is a longstanding informal tradition and rite of passage in the U.S. concealed carry community. “WallyWorld” is a common slang nickname for Walmart stores.
What It Is
It refers to a new or novice concealed carrier’s first (or early) public outing while legally carrying a concealed handgun. The person typically drives to a Walmart, parks, and walks around the store shopping for a while—often 30+ minutes—while testing their holster setup, concealment, comfort, and mental mindset in a real-world environment with crowds of people.
lawnews.tv
Walmart is chosen for several practical reasons: It’s a large, busy public space with lots of people (good for practicing “normal” behavior while armed).
It has long aisles, restrooms, and varied sections to simulate everyday movement.
Many people make their first carry trip there because it’s familiar, open late, and low-stakes compared to more “serious” locations.
It’s not an official event or organized activity—just a humorous, shared experience that gets discussed a lot on gun forums (like Reddit’s r/CCW, DefensiveCarry, TaurusArmed, etc.). People often post about completing their “Wally Walk” as a milestone.
Why It’s Popular
First-time jitters: Many new carriers feel self-conscious or paranoid that “everyone knows” they’re armed. Walking around Walmart helps desensitize that feeling.
Practical test: It checks holster retention, printing under movement/lighting, comfort while bending/reaching, and how the gun shifts during normal activity.
Community bonding: It’s a shared joke in concealed carry circles—”You’re not officially carrying until you’ve done the Wally Walk.”
This goes back to mid-late 2000s and if you old farts have seen this graphic before, you found the culprit.
It was an era of fast moving normalization of CCW and when Open Carry was still if not outright verbotten, vastly frown upon. Bad CCW could result in all kinds of legal problems and there were Gun Control activists who were more than happy and did call cops on somebody legally carrying but badly concealing a firearm saying that was a dangerous armed man at a location.
We have advanced so much. Back then less than half of U.S. states allowed for any type of firearm carrying and now it is legal to do so in all 50 States with some degrees of extra red tape added in a very few states. Open Carry is also way up there and helps with CCW because accidental display is no longer cause for cops to come chasing after you. And Constitutional Carry is also moving forward and hopefully unstoppable.
And to think that Brady & Co. and all other Gun Control groups were sure by now, the U.S would be if not Gun Free, absolutely Gun Regulated To Death. I imagine it is hard to live with so much disappointment, but probably gets tempered by the donations of the few fools that remain faithful and Bloomberg.
I was fairly well practiced in CCW by the time I went to WallyWorld. I just don't like shopping there. I used Church as a good test of modes of carry.
There are a fair number of judgemental people in Church. (Especially a Catholic one.) So far, for 20+ years, OK. And Churches (Temple included) seem to be targets for those whovare anti-Religious or criminally inclined. As Miguel states, good reason to be well equipped. Or "properly dressed".
Unfortunately, WallyWorld around here carrys stuff at prices I'm inclined to pay; and some stuff other stores just don't. Like inexpensive wristwatches, bulk spices, affordable pants, etc. So when I went to a particular local WallyWorld to get an inexpensive watch, 5 paces from my truck, walking through the parking lot, I was glad I had my EDC. Yikes! Scantily clad "chubby" women were the least of what was on my radar screen!
I well remember the text as it was borrowed and reprinted several times. The graphic is a new one to me and I like it!
I've never made the walk in WW because I have a deep seated hatred for the business model of WW. I watched them go into my birth town, run below cost prices until they ran many existing businesses out of business, and then raise the prices to the WW norm and then a little. WW has been, and maybe still is, a predatory company. They killed the competition and then made the rules..
Regarding printing, yes the world has changed for Second Amendment issues, particularly here in FL. When I began carrying I was paranoid as I remember because I live in shorts and either Tee or polo. Concealment was a challenge. I've tried 2 different bely bands and I have a shoebox overflowing with holsters. When FL changed the rules I could carry with no more fear of printing, and now with even more relaxation of the rules I don't care at all how much printing or downright exposure happens. The only reason I don't open carry is I've not found holsters I like for the models I carry AND I'm not sure I want to show an invitation. High level retention just doesn't exist for my pistols and that's the only way I'd open carry..