Don't ask why, but I went into Wally World yesterday to buy a plinker .22. Met with one of the most dispicable, anal-retentive, obsessive-compulsive "Associates" I have ever run into anywhere.
It all started with the statement that my Concealed Hangun Permit was not acceptable as the second form of ID. Just because I am a curmudgeon I decided it was worth the time to dispute this, as opposed to pulling out my checkbook and asking if that would be OK. I was informed, in a hather high-handed tone of voice: "I have been trained in how to sell a gun, and you have not. I know all the rules, and you will follow them."
I ask "Associate" to call the VA State Police to check on the acceptability of a Virginia CHP as second ID. He can't find the phone number! I pull out my cell phone, look it up, and tell him the number to call. He responds that he will not call any number I give him "because you might be giving me a false number."
Anyhow, "Associate" finally finds the store-posted phone number, where I point it out to him, right next to the phone. He got one of the sourest looks on his face when he was told that the CHP was acceptable as the second ID, and told me "they never discussed that in training." Now either Wally World does not do much in the way of training, or this Associate was out of the room when the acceptability of a CHP as second form of ID was covered.
Now we get to where the real fun started - filling in the Form 4473. "
Associate" puts it on the counter, and I get started filling in the blanks when all of a sudden he starts screeching and waving his arms at me, yelling "Stop! You can't fill that out yet!" I enquire why, and am informed that he must instruct me regarding what to put down, how to put it down, and besides I cannot use all block letters.
By the time he stopped jumping up and down I had already worked my way to section 11d (Are you a fugative from justice?). In as neat as I could print them block letters written with my personal ballpoint pen that has blue ink, in case anybody cares.
Well, "Associate" cared about the blue ink. He said I cannot use blue ink.
I have just decided that even at Wally World's price, a plinker .22 is not worth the aggravation that this individual is trying to make me submit to. I inform "Associate" that I have decided to change my mind, and will not be purchasing a firearm today. I fold up the Form 4473 and put it in my back pocket.
All hell breaks loose!
"Associate" informs me that I cannot 1) fold the form, 2) put it in my pocket, 3) that he is required to file the form, and 4) that he is calling "the manager." I decide to see what this is going to turn into, so hang around for "the manager" to show up.
First on the scene is "Asst. Manager" (according to the nametag) who tells me that I cannot take the form with me because it is "a government form." I agree with "Asst. Manager" that it is indeed "a government form" but that I can and will be taking it with me, as I do not wish to leave my personal identification data behind if it is not required by law. I am informed it is "a government form" and "we have to account for them." When I ask for an explanation of "account[ing] for them" I am told that BATFE will need to see every form that is filled out.
Before we can go any further regarding that concept, the nametag saying "Manager" and some guy who says he is "Security" show up. "Asst. Manager" starts telling "Manager" what I have done (folding the fform and sticking it in my pocket).
"Manager" tells me that the form is the property of Wally World and that I cannot remove it from the store. "Security" takes an arms-crossed, stare-me-down posture right behind "Manager, which I guess would have been intimidating except he is about 4 inches shorter and at least 10 inches wider than "Manager." All I can see is his elbows and his waistline sticking out behind "Manager."
I enquire if anybody there is officially detaining me, as I do not want to put up with their pettiness and foolishness and will be leaving the store unless informed that I am not free to do so. "Manager" and "Security" both step away, saying they will call the police if I attempt to leave the store. I inform them that I am heading to the exit and that if they wish to place that call they should do it soon. I then begin to walk towards the exit at the front of the store.
(A digression - I walk really slow. Physical limitations necessitate that.)
As I am approaching the front area of the store, I see two of the County's finest hustling up, so stop to greet and confer with them. "Manager." "Asst. Manager,", "Security," and "Associate" all start talking at once, overwhelming the poor police officers with too much information. Meanwhile, I am standing there waiting for a chance to chime in and tell my story.
Eventually things get quite and I am asked to say whatever it is I want to say. I give a very concise statement about deciding not to complete a firearms purchase and wanting to take the BATFE Form 4473 with me as I do not want to leave my personal identificationb information behind when there is no known legal requirement to do so.
Policeman #1 (younger and wearing black tactical gloves) says nothing, but looks at policeman #2 as if expecting words of wisdom to come forth. Policeman #2 says he has no idea what the law is on the subject, but explains that he will be acting "as agent for the store" and will, on their say-so, arrest me on suspicion of shoplifting if I walk out of the store with the form.
I get a real big smile oin my face (just imagining the money I will be collecting from both Wally World and the County) and ask if I am no longer free to leave. I am again told that I will be arrested if I leave the store with the form, but that since I am presently inside the store I am not under any form of detention by police action.
For some reason I think trhat it would not be fair to policeman #2 to make him lose all his assets for a foolish action. I explain in basic terms that Wally World is not accurate in claiming that the Form 4733 is "store property," that the form is not a "controlled" form that has to be accounted for, and that BATFE does not require the form to be filed if it has not been completely filled out. Policeman #2 states that he has no knowledge of these matters, and that he would prefer to find out "before anybody gets arrested that does not need to be arrested." (I guess that was me he was referring to.) I ask what he had in mind, and he replied that he would like to call "his buddy" at BATFE to get an "official position."
to be continued
It all started with the statement that my Concealed Hangun Permit was not acceptable as the second form of ID. Just because I am a curmudgeon I decided it was worth the time to dispute this, as opposed to pulling out my checkbook and asking if that would be OK. I was informed, in a hather high-handed tone of voice: "I have been trained in how to sell a gun, and you have not. I know all the rules, and you will follow them."
I ask "Associate" to call the VA State Police to check on the acceptability of a Virginia CHP as second ID. He can't find the phone number! I pull out my cell phone, look it up, and tell him the number to call. He responds that he will not call any number I give him "because you might be giving me a false number."
Anyhow, "Associate" finally finds the store-posted phone number, where I point it out to him, right next to the phone. He got one of the sourest looks on his face when he was told that the CHP was acceptable as the second ID, and told me "they never discussed that in training." Now either Wally World does not do much in the way of training, or this Associate was out of the room when the acceptability of a CHP as second form of ID was covered.
Now we get to where the real fun started - filling in the Form 4473. "
Associate" puts it on the counter, and I get started filling in the blanks when all of a sudden he starts screeching and waving his arms at me, yelling "Stop! You can't fill that out yet!" I enquire why, and am informed that he must instruct me regarding what to put down, how to put it down, and besides I cannot use all block letters.
By the time he stopped jumping up and down I had already worked my way to section 11d (Are you a fugative from justice?). In as neat as I could print them block letters written with my personal ballpoint pen that has blue ink, in case anybody cares.
Well, "Associate" cared about the blue ink. He said I cannot use blue ink.
I have just decided that even at Wally World's price, a plinker .22 is not worth the aggravation that this individual is trying to make me submit to. I inform "Associate" that I have decided to change my mind, and will not be purchasing a firearm today. I fold up the Form 4473 and put it in my back pocket.
All hell breaks loose!
"Associate" informs me that I cannot 1) fold the form, 2) put it in my pocket, 3) that he is required to file the form, and 4) that he is calling "the manager." I decide to see what this is going to turn into, so hang around for "the manager" to show up.
First on the scene is "Asst. Manager" (according to the nametag) who tells me that I cannot take the form with me because it is "a government form." I agree with "Asst. Manager" that it is indeed "a government form" but that I can and will be taking it with me, as I do not wish to leave my personal identification data behind if it is not required by law. I am informed it is "a government form" and "we have to account for them." When I ask for an explanation of "account[ing] for them" I am told that BATFE will need to see every form that is filled out.
Before we can go any further regarding that concept, the nametag saying "Manager" and some guy who says he is "Security" show up. "Asst. Manager" starts telling "Manager" what I have done (folding the fform and sticking it in my pocket).
"Manager" tells me that the form is the property of Wally World and that I cannot remove it from the store. "Security" takes an arms-crossed, stare-me-down posture right behind "Manager, which I guess would have been intimidating except he is about 4 inches shorter and at least 10 inches wider than "Manager." All I can see is his elbows and his waistline sticking out behind "Manager."
I enquire if anybody there is officially detaining me, as I do not want to put up with their pettiness and foolishness and will be leaving the store unless informed that I am not free to do so. "Manager" and "Security" both step away, saying they will call the police if I attempt to leave the store. I inform them that I am heading to the exit and that if they wish to place that call they should do it soon. I then begin to walk towards the exit at the front of the store.
(A digression - I walk really slow. Physical limitations necessitate that.)
As I am approaching the front area of the store, I see two of the County's finest hustling up, so stop to greet and confer with them. "Manager." "Asst. Manager,", "Security," and "Associate" all start talking at once, overwhelming the poor police officers with too much information. Meanwhile, I am standing there waiting for a chance to chime in and tell my story.
Eventually things get quite and I am asked to say whatever it is I want to say. I give a very concise statement about deciding not to complete a firearms purchase and wanting to take the BATFE Form 4473 with me as I do not want to leave my personal identificationb information behind when there is no known legal requirement to do so.
Policeman #1 (younger and wearing black tactical gloves) says nothing, but looks at policeman #2 as if expecting words of wisdom to come forth. Policeman #2 says he has no idea what the law is on the subject, but explains that he will be acting "as agent for the store" and will, on their say-so, arrest me on suspicion of shoplifting if I walk out of the store with the form.
I get a real big smile oin my face (just imagining the money I will be collecting from both Wally World and the County) and ask if I am no longer free to leave. I am again told that I will be arrested if I leave the store with the form, but that since I am presently inside the store I am not under any form of detention by police action.
For some reason I think trhat it would not be fair to policeman #2 to make him lose all his assets for a foolish action. I explain in basic terms that Wally World is not accurate in claiming that the Form 4733 is "store property," that the form is not a "controlled" form that has to be accounted for, and that BATFE does not require the form to be filed if it has not been completely filled out. Policeman #2 states that he has no knowledge of these matters, and that he would prefer to find out "before anybody gets arrested that does not need to be arrested." (I guess that was me he was referring to.) I ask what he had in mind, and he replied that he would like to call "his buddy" at BATFE to get an "official position."
to be continued
