A Certain Sporting Goods Store.....and not happy!

[chuckybrown]

I purchased another pistol from a popular sporting goods store chain tonight.

I tell the counter person the one I want to see...tell him I'll take it.....and.....fill out the FFL paperwork (forgive me if I don't know the form numbers) and then I sign the "I cannot return it to the store" paperwork, followed by the "gunlock" paperwork, followed by the "I can legally purchase this because" paperwork (I think that's what it was, lots of boxes declaring whether or not I was able to purchase) followed by the form allowing the store to do the checks on my gun/purchase.etc. All under the scrutiny of the college student behind the counter doing his best to follow policy.

As I'm escorted to the registers, my CHL and TDL were copied and placed in the folder with the rest of their paperwork. I''m finally handed my new pistol OUTSIDE the front door. When it was all said and done, I felt as though I have undergone a "soft registration" of my new pistol!!???

I can share that because I had my CHL, I did not have to wait while they called in. HOWEVER, I've bought numerous guns at gun shows, Carter's country, etc.....and all I've ever filled out are the yellow forms, and left with my weapons.

So, my question to ya'll...in a state where gun rights are clearly a birth right (at least as far as most of us are concerned) would you buy another gun at this store? I understand supporting thier policies and protocol in the name of the greater good, but my GOSH, what a TRAMPLING of the 2nd amendment!!

.....am I out of line? Or....should I look for another place to purchase (should they have what I want) and inform their management of my unhappiness?

After tonight's experience, I'm almost ready to start a "don't shop here" thread....

My .02 cents...

[karl]

I understand supporting thier policies and protocol in the name of the greater good, but my GOSH, what a TRAMPLING of the 2nd amendment!!

I don't believe your 2A rights have been trampled on at all. You did, after all, walk out of the store with a gun. Now I'm not saying the whole process isn't annoying; doesn't really make sense and is a bit frustrating, but they have some pretty good prices on those guns that a lot of gun shops can't beat. The paperwork was all worth it to me. Only problem is they don't often carry guns I'm interested in.

[jester]

If the hassle isn't worth the savings, don't shop there. It applies to other shopping too, from Walmart to online retailers.

[dcphoto]

Is the extra paperwork a pain? Yep.

Is it trampling your second amendment rights? Nope.

You have the option (not the right) to buy a gun in that store. They have the option to sell, or not sell you that gun. If the store, or their corporate office, feels they need extra forms to protect themselves in this litigious society, they can require it. You can also choose not to purchase there.

What it comes down to is lawyers. The corporate lawyers told the upper echelon management "we need this form to protect us from lawsuits," so they wrote a form and sent it to the stores. They don't want to trample on your 2A rights, they just want to cover their buns in case of a lawsuit.

[USA1]

I''m finally handed my new pistol OUTSIDE the front door.

All Academy stores do that...which may or may not be the store in question.

Heck, sometimes I'm escorted to the register when I'm only buying ammo.

[mrvmax]

One of the reasons I am getting my FFL to sell out of my home. I hear stories like this a lot and I think people can be treated a lot better. I am going to try and offer prices comparable to the chain stores (not always possible, but many times it is) and give better customer service as well as offer relatively low cost transfers. The only problem is that I will only be selling in one location and it limits who is willing to drive to where I live to buy a gun. It also creates the problem of being smalland not being able to have a large inventory like the chain stores.

[chuckybrown]

I guess I used "trampling" descriptively. In my humble opinion, the Feds require one form....which for the life of me I cannot find in the constitution nor in the 2nd amendment, but as sheeple we allow it. Then, add the rest of this silliness. Yes, I was allowed to make the purchase and leave with the pistol, it just seems ssssooooo overbearing.

My .02 cents.

Mrvmax, let me know when you have that FFL.......

[chartreuse]

I''m finally handed my new pistol OUTSIDE the front door.

All Academy stores do that...which may or may not be the store in question.

Wow! That strikes me as a little odd, to say the least. I wonder what the rationale for that is?

[sjfcontrol]

Because they don't want you to purchase a gun (with all the identifying paperwork), then turn around and hold them up with it. You at least need to go to your car, load it, and then come back in. It's a safety precaution...

[C-dub]

The Academy I go to occasionally in Lewisville has never escorted me to the register or door when I've purchased ammo. The same goes for all of the WalMarts I've purchased ammo from.

The two Glocks were purchased at the same gun store, so no escort. The Henry was purchased at BassPro and just handed to me in the box with a little red piece of tape so they would know I paid for it. Well, that and the receipt. Kind of funny when you think about it.

It has been years since I've purchased a gun and I would not have known what was too much regarding the paperwork.

[Teamless]

Academy has always escorted me to the register and then out the door with my guns.
Ammo - no, take it to the counter myself and have a good day.
Paperwork - yes, a pain, but as stated before, they are trying to cover themselves legally.
When I have bought guns from AJC and Bachmann at the Gun Shows, I have also had to fill out the form with all the check boxes, just none of the other addendums.

Walmart - if I am getting ammo and being rung up at the sporting goods desk, no problem, but if it is not a sporting goods worker getting me the ammo, they walk the ammo to the tire counter to be rung up, then I get possession of it.

[The Annoyed Man]

Cabelas does (or used to do, anyway) the same thing. I was mildly annoyed (my usual state ) and asked, "what if I'm not done shopping?" I was told that was OK, they'd just hold the gun behind the counter, and when I was finished shopping, they would escort me to the door and hand me the gun outside.

That won't stop me from buying another gun there. Like everyone else says, they're just covering their butt in a litigious society.

[Oldgringo]

I witnessed this same transfer in the Tyler Gander Mountain once upon a time. Can you imagine anyone paying GM's price for a gun?

[Kevinf2349]

If you think Academy is bad try Sports Authority (who I am persoanlly boycotting). They want to see your DL and to sign for buying ammo! That was when I walked out the door.

Edited to add: Personally I prefer to support my local gun store anyway but that is just my own choice but it did work out great for the last fire arm purchase when I picked up a Taurus 709SS for $10 cheaper than it was on sale for at Academy...plus I got some HP ammo in the deal.

[fannypacker]

I have been through that process as well, including the fact that the CHL helped me a bit. I don't mind saying the store was Academy. All just remember that we still need to support our local gun shops or they will disappear.