So in my continuing search to find a gun shop that will actually honor the law and accept a firearm from an out of state private party (at the time of this typing my crisis has been resolved) I was graciously directed by some of the members here to a little gunshop in MiddleofNowhere, TX. Since this place was an hour away from where I live, so I decided the prudent thing would be to call the shop and actually find out if they will do the transaction.
Well, I call the shop and an elderly gentlment answers the phone. I explain to him my situation and specifically ask him whether or not he is willing to accept a transfer for a rifle from a private party in NY. He tells me that its not a problem, quotes me a price and gives me the hours of the shop. Oh happy day I thought. Not so.
The following day I was able to rearrange my schedule and make the drive. I finally made it to the town where the gunshop was located, which literally consisted of a single intersection. I walk in and notice that there isn't anyone in the store or behind the counter. I thought that was kinda wierd since there really wasn't anything stopping me from taking anything I wanted. So I walk up to the counter and ring the bell and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
And wait.
After about 6 or 7 minutes, I give a holler into the back room and ask if there is anybody there. A voice from the back responds "I heard ya with the bell the first time". Alright, things are now getting really wierd. A sixty something "old timer" with the requisite faded john deere cap, flannel shirt and wranglers walks out from the back room, wiping his mouth with a napkin. I chalked this up to the small town "customer service"... kind of annoying but oh well.
So I explain to the guy that I'm trying to do a transfer and I hand him the address and info. He looks at it, starts shaking his head and says "nah uh, we don't do that". To make matters worse he starts to walk back toward the back room.
Now before I go on, let me clarify something. I understand that a person can run his own shop the way that they want. Its perfectly within their rights to have great or poor customer service. However, there is place where poor customer service ends and personal insults begin. I might be kind of old fashioned, but you don't turn your back on someone when they are talking to you. I don't care how old, intelligent, or wise you think you are, thats something you don't do...
...and thats something that this guy did. Before he reached the door I raised my voice and told him that I wasn't finished. He turned around and told me that he didn't care. He then went on to explain that he wouldn't have anything to do with either California or New York. This was his reasoning and I quote, "Those states aren't part of America and they don't honor federal law, so I don't do business with them."
A 10 minute yelling match ensued where we went back and forth. I was really more pissed about making the useless drive than I was about his redneck backwoods reasoning.
Aside from dealing with a total ass, there is a bigger picture here. While I understand that these states have whacked laws (I should know, I'm from CA) that definiately run afoul of the 2nd amendment, by refusing to do business with private people from these states, all you are doing is screwing the people that actually care about gun rights and could possibly do some change. Sticking your head in the sand does nothing but allow the other side to dig in further.
Like I said, a shop owner should run his shop his way, but don't sit there an say that you do your part to support gun rights when you have written those off who are fighting for theirs.
Well, I call the shop and an elderly gentlment answers the phone. I explain to him my situation and specifically ask him whether or not he is willing to accept a transfer for a rifle from a private party in NY. He tells me that its not a problem, quotes me a price and gives me the hours of the shop. Oh happy day I thought. Not so.
The following day I was able to rearrange my schedule and make the drive. I finally made it to the town where the gunshop was located, which literally consisted of a single intersection. I walk in and notice that there isn't anyone in the store or behind the counter. I thought that was kinda wierd since there really wasn't anything stopping me from taking anything I wanted. So I walk up to the counter and ring the bell and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
And wait.
After about 6 or 7 minutes, I give a holler into the back room and ask if there is anybody there. A voice from the back responds "I heard ya with the bell the first time". Alright, things are now getting really wierd. A sixty something "old timer" with the requisite faded john deere cap, flannel shirt and wranglers walks out from the back room, wiping his mouth with a napkin. I chalked this up to the small town "customer service"... kind of annoying but oh well.
So I explain to the guy that I'm trying to do a transfer and I hand him the address and info. He looks at it, starts shaking his head and says "nah uh, we don't do that". To make matters worse he starts to walk back toward the back room.
Now before I go on, let me clarify something. I understand that a person can run his own shop the way that they want. Its perfectly within their rights to have great or poor customer service. However, there is place where poor customer service ends and personal insults begin. I might be kind of old fashioned, but you don't turn your back on someone when they are talking to you. I don't care how old, intelligent, or wise you think you are, thats something you don't do...
...and thats something that this guy did. Before he reached the door I raised my voice and told him that I wasn't finished. He turned around and told me that he didn't care. He then went on to explain that he wouldn't have anything to do with either California or New York. This was his reasoning and I quote, "Those states aren't part of America and they don't honor federal law, so I don't do business with them."
A 10 minute yelling match ensued where we went back and forth. I was really more pissed about making the useless drive than I was about his redneck backwoods reasoning.
Aside from dealing with a total ass, there is a bigger picture here. While I understand that these states have whacked laws (I should know, I'm from CA) that definiately run afoul of the 2nd amendment, by refusing to do business with private people from these states, all you are doing is screwing the people that actually care about gun rights and could possibly do some change. Sticking your head in the sand does nothing but allow the other side to dig in further.
Like I said, a shop owner should run his shop his way, but don't sit there an say that you do your part to support gun rights when you have written those off who are fighting for theirs.
LOL 