Do other "young" people have this happen too?

[RX-178]

Did they even give a reason for the refusal?

Actually I didn't know it was a refusal until finding out about my friend's Plinkster transfer.

The guy literally just said, "We don't do transfers here." and went to deal with another customer.

 

[CharlesT]

I'm 19 have 20+ guns and 4 cars (owned 7)......

Own an online business.

I have to deal with this all the time. But you simply act just like you did with the XD.

Eventually the people who matter will know that you know.

 

[m33p0n3]

I do get that kind of treatment, but I honestly don't mind much. I get a lot of information from the internet, so I like to have people explain things to me just to make sure what I think I know is correct. It can be rather frustrating to have something you already know re-explained, but every so often you pick up little nuggets of information that otherwise would not have shown.

As with everything, though, age does not determine experience, knowledge, or wisdom. I find I like to learn from others that have any of the three that I do not.

 

[JTHunter]

Hank - a VERY intelligent teacher I had taught their class that "Knowledge is Power."
Why do you go to a doctor, or a mechanic? They have the knowledge and the power over us that this knowledge gives them. The more knowledge YOU have, the more power you have. You showed that very well when you broke that pistol down.
Very few people your age have as extensive an interest in firearms as you have. You are fortunate to have the desire to learn and people that have shown you. Be grateful.
Listen (and read) and learn. You will be better in the long run!
Good luck and "keep it in the 10 ring!"

 

[CutMan]

Sorry about your experience.... these are the types of people that are keeping shooting sports and responsible firearm ownership from becoming more popular. I still have yet to find a range or store in Dallas that I am truly comfortable in and feel welcome, and I'm 40.

 

[pacerdude]

I'm 22 and it happens to me all the time haha. I just laugh it off but it is fun to go to a gunshop with my father, the whole time the salesmen address him haha which is funny because my dad takes me to make sure he is getting a good deal on a gun.

I guess when I am forty or so, I will miss it!

 

[Frozen North]

Many people judge based on appearances. It has become an ultimate taboo to judge people based on skin color (even though it is still common), but there are many things that still get it allot.

Kids and old folks get it the worst. This is a fact! They assume the young are to ignorant to know anything and the elderly are all senile.

I get judged by my appearance in gun shops from time to time... I am a white 30 year old man with a heavy build, shaved head, long facial hair, and a ton of tattoos. Some of my friends say I look pretty rough. I can tell that some shop keepers would rather not allow me to handle their guns, and I always get carded for ammo. I make them uneasy for sure. What they don't know it that I have MNBCA clearance to enter level 4 state prisons! I have a SPOTLESS criminal record. I have sole physical custody of my three young sons and do the single dad thing about as well as it can be done.

My actions in life have put me solidly in the white hat good guys club, no one who knows me would would think differently. I look the part of a bad guy, so that is what many think I am.

The kid prejudice is an easy one to overcome. You can prove yourself to the open minded and it does not pay to worry about the rest. We all need to prove ourselves in life, just make sure you are proving yourself to the right people.

I have no intentions of cleaning up my image, I kinda like it! I will advise you to stay out of the tattoo shop though! They last FOREVER!!!

 

[mhphoto]

I'm 24, and if it weren't for my receding hairline I bet that I'd be treated a lot more poorly in gun shops. But I know exactly what you're talking about. Go in with a scowl, that helps. Never let the old man behind the counter out-scowl you. Strange, but it works.

 

[Ignition Override]

That's a shame, but people are generally superficial and judge others on their age, appearance, and even whether they have a bit of gray hair.
When my son was about 12-16, he sometimes did not appear to be sure of something, or convincing, and so I doubted things he was aware of.

If a young person still in high school says that he/she understands anything that I don't, I try to remember it, whether it concerns guns or whatever else. It's certainly true with any high-tech device.

But many people want to "pull rank" only due to their age, seniority, especially more advanced job titles.
Such people often have delicate egos.

 

[elano]

I can relate. I'm 24 and look relatively young. Sometimes I walk into a gun store or pawn shop and ask to look at a particular gun, they say things like "how old are you?" or "can I see your ID?." Geez it's not like I'm filling out paperwork to buy it, just want to handle it first. I now reply in equil to the way I'm treated. I will reply with "I'm 24 how old are you?" or if asked for my ID will throw it along with my firearms license down on their counter and say "I brought money today too, do you want to see that? I'm ready to buy now are you going to make me a good deal today?"

I then go on to thurougly inspect every gun and point out what's broken or missing. I'm just so sick of these salesman who try to take advantage of me because I'm young, or act like they don't want to sell me anything.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I'm 18 but I look like I'm in my 20s. Thankfully I've never been looked down upon considering how much I know about guns.

 

[Yeager]

Hank - a VERY intelligent teacher I had taught their class that "Knowledge is Power."
Why do you go to a doctor, or a mechanic? They have the knowledge and the power over us that this knowledge gives them. The more knowledge YOU have, the more power you have. You showed that very well when you broke that pistol down.
Very few people your age have as extensive an interest in firearms as you have. You are fortunate to have the desire to learn and people that have shown you. Be grateful.
Listen (and read) and learn. You will be better in the long run!
Good luck and "keep it in the 10 ring!"

There are more of out there than you think.

My generation in particular seems almost fanatical when it comes to guns compared to the older generations I've interacted with over the past 4 years or so.

 

[olafhardtB]

I am a white headed white bearded white old fart. I am frequently amazed by people who accept almost everything I say as pure gold and just know I am a man of sterling character.

 

[Autolycus]

Lots of the people who frequent gun shops or work at them are ignorant. It happened to me all the time as a hispanic male who loves to wear football jerseys. People like stereotypes, but they are not based on fact, they just have a preconceived notion that people are working off of and there is an element of truth to them.

 

[Jed Carter]

Why do you think they are called DICK's? I am 50+ and they are just as rude to me in that area of the store. Their cashiers seem to be upset when I purchase ammunition, scared in fact. Don't sweat it and spend your money elsewhere.

 

[Taniwha]

Grow a proper mustache. A big luxuriant Magnum PI style mustache. That`ll fix all your problems. Impossible to disrespect a Magnum PI mustache.

 

[Kliegl]

Be careful, Hank. This place isn't the end all / be all of gun knowledge either. Good stuff, true, but lots of errors as well.

 

[Apocalypse-Now]

i am a white headed white bearded white old fart. I am frequently amazed by people who accept almost everything i say as pure gold and just know i am a man of sterling character.

lmao!!

 

[2ndAmFan]

I'm in my fifties and still get similar treatment at some gun stores. Don't ask me why, because I don't know. I just don't go to them again.

 

[kingcheese]

i just turned 19, i use to get eyed a lot, but i go in and buy stuff so often that the people at the local gunshops no me by name now, sometimes i go in just to ask if there is anything new, that i might want to buy, with a wad of cash in my hand

i also have a concealed carry permit, not usual for someone that isnt old enough to buy a handgun, but everyone i see says i aqm not old enough to have it, lets think about it, i waited two months for city and state police to pass all my paper work, if there was an age problem, they would have stopped it

thank god for the idiots in INDIANA

 

[ultradoc]

Oh I wish I could have seen the faces on them guys. Don't worry kid [just joking]. It happenes to me still sometimes and I am almost 50. Hang in there and take the high road like you did.

 

[Sky]

Profiling

 

[ball3006]

When I was 18, I could walk into any gun shop and buy anything I wanted. Of course, that was 50 years ago. License to buy/own a gun? Dude, you need to move to a free state.....chris3

 

[oerllikon]

A lot of what Im reading directs straight back to that quote
"Force perceived is force achieved"
If you want respect right when you meet the people that dont give it to you right away: Keep good posture, dont make unnecessary comments, dont seem too happy (AKA scowl as mentioned above), and be a boarderline dick. If they dont treat you like dirt after that, you can open up and be yourself. It has worked many times for people that mistake my nice-ness for being weak.

YMMV

 

[Vaarok]

Y'know, I actually did grow the mustache. It does work.