Walmart launches dragnet 

Walmart in Paso Robles recently started a practice where the greeter stops shoppers after they make their purchases, but before they completely exit the store (although I've also seen them chase people down who have slipped by). At times, people have to line up and wait to exit, which seems ridiculous—they've already waited in line and paid. How many shoplifters put loot in their shopping bag, anyway? It's as though Walmart believes we are all shoplifters and thieves, and it really bothers me.

I stopped in to use the Red Box video rental system. While my daughter was selecting a movie, I was watching the Walmart greeter/police. I observed lots of different people being stopped. Many had already put their receipts away, so they had to put their purchases down, pull out their wallets, and find their receipts; most were glanced at. But most disturbing was the discrimination I observed. While a white, middle-aged woman much like myself was smiled at and flagged through without delay, a young Hispanic couple was stopped and had their bags thoroughly checked. Was that justified? Was that discrimination? Was that legal?