Would this bother you?

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Having a personal relationship with your local gunshop helps. What you did was suspicious. I'd have worked out some sort of layaway deal up front and told them my plans and why. Use the $150 up front to layaway 3-4 guns and pick up one over the course of a few weeks. Gunshops are required to do some extra paperwork which can result in LE investigation if you purchase more than 1 handgun within a 7 day period. It looks an awful lot like you were working the system just to avoid that regulation.

I've purchased 2 handguns at once in the past and the store where I did my business advised me that they would prefer that I pay for one today, and come back in a week or 10 days to pay for and pick up the 2nd one. I didn't have a problem with that. While it would have been legal to sell both I didn't see the need to raise red flags for either the store or me.
 
Buying a number of the same kind of gun in a relatively short time is a behavior pattern that will raise eyebrows. Spacing the purchases more than 5 days apart could appear to be a tactic to avoid having the shop fill out a multiple handgun purchase form and submit it to the BATF.

IMO, the clerk's question was reasonable based on the behavior pattern you exhibited.
 
How well do you know these guys? I've had questions from shops that didn't know me, but after I've made some purchases and they know I'm okay, a little trust is developed.
Maybe the ATF has been back in touch with the shop and they're feeling a little anxious. Maybe others have picked up some of those cheap Rugers and are reselling them on Armslist and word has gotten back to the shop.
Next time you're in there, tell them you're building a P series collection. Tell them you are grateful for what they offer and the chance for someone with limited funds to buy like the guys with deep pockets. Let them know they are going to stay in your possession.
I also think you should be sharing the address of this shop. No one around here will sell Ruger P series guns for less then $300.
 
"Mind your own business and if you're suggesting I'm straw purchasing why are you allowing me in the store?" I dislike insinuations and would prefer a straightforward question or outright accusation." Don't pass the heat on the customer because feds are breathing down your neck. Just do YOUR job I.e 4473 son. And what are you so concerned about straw purchases for, Mr gun counter man, the government makes them all the time with the blessing of the authorities. The atf doesn't require you ask everyone three times just fill out the form the right way.

If he could handle my irritated tone we could do business if not I'd tell him I guess I'll take my straw purchase money elsewhere. Guilty until proven innocent and all that. I've never had anything but great experiences in gun shops. I don't like being treated like a crimmie.

In the case of the OP, the gun shop has rare pieces he wanted at a ridiculously low price. Since gun-shops can refuse to sell a firearm to anyone for whatever reason they want, I would think coming off like a jerk and refusing to answer the question would be a legitimate reason, especially if they were a similar jerk. Taking your "straw purchase money elsewhere" when there is no "elsewhere" to get those firearms at that price, makes little or no sense to me. As others have said, it was reasonable for the clerk to have suspicions and if they had issues in the past with straw purchases, their suspicions and questions are to be expected. I get irritated every-time I get carded when buying alcohol or when buying ammo, even tho I am a grey haired 65 year old. Ain't worth throwing a fit over at the register tho. Folks just doing their job.

Don't want to get treated like a "crimmie", don't act like one. A "crimmie" would be upset being asked that question and would try to bully the clerk into making the sale. As Sgt. Hulka says..... ''Lighten up, Francis''.
 
I would have assured him the first time he brought it up, but the 2nd and 3rd time would be a bother for me. I would get it all out in the open and make it known you dont wish to address the question every time you come to purchase a gun and if that's a problem you can take your business elsewhere.

Folks here say you're being too sensitive, maybe he is being reasonable, I would honestly be a lil irked by this.
 
I agree the salesperson could have handled it differently but I would imagine an atf audit is no day at the beach.I think he was being careful.
 
make it known you dont wish to address the question every time you come to purchase a gun and if that's a problem you can take your business elsewhere.

Yeah, you can go to the store down the street selling the same guns for double the money.
Makes sense.
 
In the case of the OP, the gun shop has rare pieces he wanted at a ridiculously low price. Since gun-shops can refuse to sell a firearm to anyone for whatever reason they want, I would think coming off like a jerk and refusing to answer the question would be a legitimate reason, especially if they were a similar jerk. Taking your "straw purchase money elsewhere" when there is no "elsewhere" to get those firearms at that price, makes little or no sense to me. As others have said, it was reasonable for the clerk to have suspicions and if they had issues in the past with straw purchases, their suspicions and questions are to be expected. I get irritated every-time I get carded when buying alcohol or when buying ammo, even tho I am a grey haired 65 year old. Ain't worth throwing a fit over at the register tho. Folks just doing their job.

Don't want to get treated like a "crimmie", don't act like one. A "crimmie" would be upset being asked that question and would try to bully the clerk into making the sale. As Sgt. Hulka says..... ''Lighten up, Francis''.

I wouldn't refuse the question. I stated that if we are going to have insinuations I would rather be asked point blank or accused "I think you're a straw buyer". Because, criminals buy collectible weapons frequently for crimes. Because I'm such a great gun shop employee (or total noob) that I'm too dense to realize maybe I should be a little more social with the guy who has been in my store every Friday for a month doin something besides browsing every pay day. A real super sleuth I'm sure his pay reflects his knack for catching straw buyers in the act.

I wonder how many guns purchased in a given time frame should become the arbitrary limit. If I haven't bought a gun in five years and you buy one a month I can spin that into suspicion. That's a dozen guns a year nobody needs that kinda firepower SUSPICIOUS! STRAW BUYER! I have known enough ffls and gun shop guys to know this employee lacks any sort of tact.

In my religion we don't establish testimony without two or more witnesses. False accusations of any sort are an evil. So, bad gun counter man. Insinuations were just for the plausible deniability and are then, just as shameful as an open accusation. I don't want to report it to his boss I just want a 4473 and a come to Jesus meeting with this guy. He can ask me to leave, no offense taken because my money is still green.
 
It sounds like you're getting smoking good deals on guns that interest you. He could have been more tactful in his approach it sounds like but your purchase frequency/ quantity fit a pattern he's supposed to look out for. I'd let him slide as long as he promptly completed your transactions. He doesn't know you and might be guessing you are an ATF Agent or a undercover reporter as well.
 
Yeah, you can go to the store down the street selling the same guns for double the money.
Makes sense.

True that. That's why my favorite stores are Dicks and Wal Mart. Why stand on any principle at all when you can "save money-live better"? All about them Benjamin's heck I'm not sure what I wouldn't do to get low prices on a rare toy.
 
No, it would not piss me off. He is actually doing his job. I would thank him for his vigilance, however tactless, and explain that you are a collector. If, AFTER, doing so, he continued like a dog with a bone, it would be time to bring his manager into the picture to address the tact issue.
 
Once, no problem.
Three times during one transaction?
Yeah, that might ruffle my feathers a bit, too...
.

I completely agree with this. At my shop, any questionable sale gets automatically (and quietly) escalated to the boss. We do look for any signs of "straw" but are under orders not to confront the person. There are plenty of ways to deny a sale, or get police involved, if it goes beyond a certain point. The cop-shop is really close.
 
How well do you know these guys? I've had questions from shops that didn't know me, but after I've made some purchases and they know I'm okay, a little trust is developed.
Maybe the ATF has been back in touch with the shop and they're feeling a little anxious. Maybe others have picked up some of those cheap Rugers and are reselling them on Armslist and word has gotten back to the shop.
Next time you're in there, tell them you're building a P series collection. Tell them you are grateful for what they offer and the chance for someone with limited funds to buy like the guys with deep pockets. Let them know they are going to stay in your possession.
I also think you should be sharing the address of this shop. No one around here will sell Ruger P series guns for less then $300.


Honestly. Their prices are all over the place in the used gun case. A Ruger P95 beat to hell might be $325. A pristine one sitting right beside it might be $145. It is crazy. I asked about that and was told that it depended on who priced them that day

I have been going there for years. I buy a lot of ammunition, powder and primers. They do have a lot of turn over on the sales staff though
 
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Yeah, you can go to the store down the street selling the same guns for double the money.
Makes sense.
We all have different thresholds in terms of what we are willing to tolerate. I dont really care how good the deals are somewhere if it conflicts with my own principles. Ymmv.

I'm not even advocating not shopping there, just that there would be a limit to how many times I would address that question from a clerk. That's all.
 
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Wouldn't bother me one bit. He's just cya that is all. Now if someone got personal calling my wife fat for instance (had a tech at her job do that) then I would take offense at that. Gotta put yourself in others shoes.
 
I’d answer the question once and be very courteous and direct about how I’m completely legal, but in general I don’t take sass or rudeness from service workers...in the form of spending elsewhere. Asking more than once? Nope. I would’ve told him he was being rude and shown him my back the second time he asked assuming I had provided a suitable answer the first time.
 
You are probably right. I do remember now that they got an audit awhile back from the ATF. I guess there were a lot of guns from their store turning up at drug houses and other crime scenes in New York and other places in the Northeast

I would look at this is on the lines of a convenience store that got caught selling beer to a minor and now cards everyone who attempts to buy beer.
 
Everyone is different, but I would explain to him that if I lied once I would likely lie again, so there was little to be gained by beating a dead horse. I would also explain my MO, assure him I was not buying them for resale, and express my appreciation for his assistance and conscientiousness. Butt burn after an audit is a very common theme, and the risk of antagonizing a customer is far outweighed by the risk of enforcement action.

We all were green once upon a time, and it took time in the trenches to polish us up. No use getting irate over a fellow trying to do a good job.
 
Be reasonable, because YOU explained, that is enough to determine that is the truth?
 
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