Gun Store Incident - Some people are just WEIRD!

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Local store here had a young woman who did not know anything about handguns, and just "wanted one", and didn't seem interested as the salesman tried to draw her out about her needs, any preferences, or questions she had.

She just kept asking to see different guns at random, and would use her fingers like calipers to size the longest distance from the top of the front sight blade to the bottom of the muzzle. Then they realized that what first appeard to be her putting her hand to her mouth in thought after each gun, she was actually transfering the measurment of her fingers from the gun's muzzle to see how it fit between her teeth in her open mouth.

Previous experiences had taught them it was not enough for the police to do anything, so all they could do was politely ask her to leave. :uhoh:
 
I politely told her that I didn't feel comfortable selling her two handguns not knowing who the other "person" was and suggested that we would gladly finish the transaction the next day with the other party (and my manager) present.
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Highorder, you did the right thing, and if your manager refused to back you on the call, it's probably best you got out. Losing a job is better than landing in jail because of a straw purchase. The person filling out the form on behalf of the FFL is responsible, and has every right to decline a sale. It's their keister on the line if it's a bad purchase. The company wouldn't hesitate to fire them if it were a sting. If the manager wants to sell the gun that bad, they're welcome to do it themselves.
 
To be clear, my Gun Department Manager backed me; the Store Manager hosed me.

She never returned to purchase the 1911's.

The person filling out the form on behalf of the FFL is responsible, and has every right to decline a sale. It's their keister on the line if it's a bad purchase.
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100%
 
I would report this to the Regional Manager for Gander Mtn, or maybe even higher up. If you choose to write a letter, don't be angry, but rather matter of fact about how you felt uncomfortable when the customer (who was alone) kept saying we. They may just write it off as a disgruntled ex-employee, but at least you tried to correct the situation. I may be wrong, but I have got to think that their upper management would be very interested in this.
 
I would report this to the Regional Manager for Gander Mtn, or maybe even higher up.
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This was 6 years ago, and I have washed my hands of it. The store had other problems. The manner in which they were dealt with inspired no confidence in the Store Manager, or the corporation he works for. It wasn't a battle worth fighting in my opinion.

It's still a great place to buy camping gear.
 
After reading this whole thing, I saw a battered wife, who had to explain why she did not have her purse. So he buys her story, knocks her around a bit, then goes to the shop to retrieve the purse. (I noted she was not with him). When the cops approach him, he tried to think fast and came up with the off her meds thing.

I could be wrong, but that comes pretty close in my mind from the original post.
 
I have no reason to be turned down for a NICS and I certainly don't engage in straw purchases, but either way, I figure that cracking jokes while filling out the 4473 seems like a good way to get your purchase refused. As proven in the OP, theres a thin line between self defense preparation and premeditated assault/murder when it comes to the words you use to describe it.
 
Local store here had a young woman who did not know anything about handguns, and just "wanted one", and didn't seem interested as the salesman tried to draw her out about her needs, any preferences, or questions she had.

She just kept asking to see different guns at random, and would use her fingers like calipers to size the longest distance from the top of the front sight blade to the bottom of the muzzle. Then they realized that what first appeard to be her putting her hand to her mouth in thought after each gun, she was actually transfering the measurment of her fingers from the gun's muzzle to see how it fit between her teeth in her open mouth.

Previous experiences had taught them it was not enough for the police to do anything, so all they could do was politely ask her to leave.
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Apparently, she was too stupid to figure out that she could hold the gun sideways. Selling her one would have been Darwin in action, sounds like.

People will go to great lengths planning a suicide, if they're serious about it. There was a reporter several years back who asked to do a segment on suicide, and asked the local sheriff the best way to kill oneself. He said shooting yourself behind the ear, rather than in the temple, with .38 SPL wadcutters, would be the surest way to go. A couple weeks later, she shot herself behind the ear with a .38 SPL wadcutter, on live TV.
 
Wow, what a story. With the way that the husband stormed in, you'd think that they already have a few firearms at home.
 
So he starts telling her about the CZ line and so forth and the question comes up "so do you have a specific purpose in mind, target shooting or...." and this woman cuts in with "well I really need something in case I have to shoot my husband".

WHAT!

She wasn't making a poor joke, she was serious as a heart attack.

The owner kinda stumbles and says "I'm sorry, what?" and this lady says "well, my husbands getting kinda rough and I think I'm going to have to shoot him".

So the owner kinda stops for a minute and then says, very quietly, "Miss, you just basically told me you are planning to shoot someone. I can't sell you a gun."

(as you can imagine, we're all in HIGH ALERT mode by now)

She gets this weird about-to-cry look in her face and says "but I NEED one and soon".

The owner says "hey lady, I tell you what, I can call the police and you can wait here and when the arrive you can tell them what is going on". Well the lady FREAKS and yells some obscenities at the owner and storms out the door (leaving her purse behind).

So we're all kinda standing there in shock for a few minutes and then the owner says "the hell with this, I'm calling the cops". We agreed that was probably a good idea.

So he phones and tells them the story and that he still has the ladies purse with her ID. The cops say they'll be right over.
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She didn't really 'incriminate' herself by saying that as far as I know. But I have heard similar things - ladies coming in asking to buy "a switchblade" for "defense against my husband." Unfortunately these shop keepers did not handle it with as much composure as yours did, and they passed up an advantage to inform someone about personal safety.

Gun store owners don't have a duty to save lives, but you'd think that's why they're in the biz; why pass up a chance to tell someone that it's better to be OUT OF THERE than have a gun?!

Now, regarding the second half...that's just pure chaos. A good time for you to remove yourself from the action!
 
A little while back, I was planning a range weekend. It was payday, had to handle the bills, then off to work. I decided to stop at a gun shop on the way to work for ammo.

So I'm in my work uniform, I collect a bunch of ammo, and go to the register.There are two guys looking at pistols, and an LEO shooting the breeze with one of the shop guys. I'm already tired and I'm not even at work yet.

"Looks like someone's gonna have some fun!" quips the cashier. "No, I'm going to work." said I.

He stops ringing at looks at me. The guys are looking at me. The cop is really looking at me. Then it occured to me how it sounded. I explain the whole thing and everyone laughs, but they explain that they almost refused the sale, and had done so in the past for a whole lot less.

Perhaps we can police ourselves.
 
A few years ago here in Denver, a woman asked to see a .38 revolver in a pawn shop, then loaded it and shot herself on the spot. Ya just never know.
 
Maybe that big angry guy had a death wish.
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Have you guys seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford? Jesse James knowingly gifted his own assassin with the gun that would later kill him.

It's not entirely unplausible to think that they guy wanted his wife to off him. Good reasoning.
 
I suppose if I had a death-wish, I would want her to use something appropriate, I'd just feel wrong if a Glock took me out instead of a quality XD.:D
 
Props to the gun store owner doing the right thing and not selling her a gun.

Having worked in a gun store, I can tell you, all types of crazys come in to the store.
 
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