Age Limit to Enter Gun Store

[freakshow10mm]

That's Cabela's policy, not law.

 

[cauberallies]

I'm 20. I was 19 two months ago. Around here, not only have I never been turned away from a dedicated gun store for my age, but I've never been given any hassle, and I've handled lots of handguns. The 4 shops around here that I frequent all know I am under 21, but I'm going to guess that the fact that I actually spend money on something more often than not, and that I have brought new customers to them all has something to do with it. In the past 5 months, I have created 6 new gun owners, repeat customers, and second amendment supporters. I also go out once a week to all the local gun stores to check prices, ammunition availability, and anything new they may have got in in the past week, and this information goes to several other people who all buy on a regular basis as well.

I am certain that what I have said above has everything to do with the way I am treated in local gun stores. I have seen people turned away based on age, behavior, and the fact that they don't ever buy anything. The mall ninjas and call of duty kids coming in to fondle all the AR-15s, asking to see their "sniper rifles" and arguing over whether or not the Beretta shotgun that says "automatic" on the sticker is full auto or not are enough to drive me crazy in the short time I am in the store, so I couldn't even imagine what these guys have to put up with on a regular basis.

The only trouble I have ever been given, was at Dick's sporting goods. I asked to see the Mini 14 they had just got in, and I was told that I have to be 21 to handle or buy guns there. They only carry long guns, mind you. But I think it could have just been someone in a bad mood, because I've had no problems checking out guns with other employees.

 

[DaveBeal]

Read the law again. They can only possess for certain circumstances. If it isn't specifically listed as being exempted (legal), then it's illegal. Inspecting a handgun is not specifically exempted so it's illegal.

The exceptions are relevant only if the handgun has been transferred. I'm suggesting that just handling the gun to inspect it is not transferral and so doesn't require an exception. But we'll never know for sure because 18USC922 doesn't define "transfer".

 

[bthr22]

Kudos to you. I also vote with my pocketbook. What you should have done is go inside and ask to speak to the owner or manager (or get the owners phone number if he wasn't there) and then offer a polite observation that you came to the store to spend money and then saw the sign. Don't assume anything, because like others have said, they may have a specific problem they're trying to solve. So, don't assume anything - ask the guy if the sign applies to you because you were coming in to make a lawful purchase. He may say "shoot, we've got a bunch of kids from the high school coming over here. guess we need to change the sign to say 18." or he may say he doesn't like folks under 21. either way, you'll give him an opportunity to explain his reason to you. You can then make the call to buy or walk - and if you choose to walk you should tell him you don't agree with his reason and that's why you're spending money with his competition.

If I choose to vote with my pocketbook, I do generally try to let the guy that owns the place know about it.

Heads up if you go this route, the owner of Gunsport in Centerville is known for being a jerk. Don't be suprised if you are just blown off. I was in there today and had the exact same problem. I'm 18 and he said you can't be in here, which i feel is rediculous as I am a potential paying customer, and am legally allowed to purchase most of the stuff he has in there. Needless to say he won't get any of my business. OP, try Peabodys Sports on Wilmington Pike in Kettering. They are very friendly, and have better prices than Gunsport.

 

[ColeK]

God, I'm glad I came of age in the 1960's. I've been buying ammo since I was 8 years old. I bought my first rifle when I was 17. I had other firearms but they were gifts.

 

[MolleMan]

I have to agree with cauberallies, gunstores must come across young playstation kids wanting to play with their favorite online rifle but I was really bothered that at my local academy sports they would not let my wife (whos 19) handle a pisto land I have bought plenty from them. needless to say i have not been back.

 

[Pyzon]

I suggest you call them up to tell them that they are excluding you from spending your money in their establishment. They will react positively, negatively, or most likely not at all. Nonetheless, there are others that welcome your business.

 

[Boris bush]

I wonder if they would throw me out if I were to bring my 7YO in with me?

If they did not I would ringup a huge sale and when I was given the total I would tell them I will not spend my money in a place like that and leave.

My boy will not let me out the door without him on my weekly funstore visit. No way I would leave him home to go to a store like that.......

 

[brboyer]

I took my grandson into a local shop and bought him (and made it clear I was buying them for him *) a S&W 638, a Remington 700 in .30-06 and a .50 cal. Let him hold (touch) all of them, never a word was said.


* The wifey cannot complain when I buy stuff for the grand-kids!


















He was two months old at the time too.

 

[rfwobbly]

On the other hand....
the store owner might have had big trouble from a particular group or singular young person. By having the sign he can call the cops on them as soon as they enter. As you pointed out, this is his right.

He may simply not realize he's keeping good customers away too. I might have been tempted to call from outside the store to clarify his reason.

The point is you don't know the motivating factors until you ask.

 

[Justin Holder]

Shame they don't post IQ requirements to enter a gun store.

 

[KAK]

If you are old enough to be a victim you are old enough to at least plan your eventual self defense. I dont think the government should regulate guns though. I think if a dad wants his kid to take a handgun with him on a hike to keep him safe, or whatever, its the dads call.

I think if you criminally use a gun you should be SEVERELY punished though. We shouldnt need CHLs to protect ourselves from scum.

Sorry for the rant, but in the old days before all of this dang regulation, gun crime was almost nonexistent.


The store policy is bull**** IMHO

 

[Davek1977]

I've never seen a sign like that in any gunshop I've ever been in. Looking back at many threads here concerning gun shops, I realize how lucky I was tha the "local" gun shop (still 80 miles away when I was growing up....now the same shop is less than a mile from home) treated me the way they did. Even at 12-13, I was acknowledged when I walked into the store, andtreated with as much respect (and sometimes even maybe moreso) than anyone else in the shop. Any rifle or handgun I wanted to look at was provided to me, and any question, no matter how dumb, was answered. Twenty years down the road....with sometimes 5 years passing between visits....the owner STILL recognizes me and calls me by name every time I walk in. Teton RiVer Traders in Ft Pierre, SD...anmd espeically Cody who runs the place....have never treated me with anything but respect, whether I was 30 yrs old buying a gun, or 12 years old drooling over all the goodies in the display case. I definitely did my share of "hanging around" the gun shop not buying anything, but the attitude of the owner made it clear he didn't mind. The hours spent browsing, handling, and asking questions certainly increased my knowledge of guns and kept me interested in shooting. Who knows what effect it would have had on my emergining interest if I had been kicked out of the shop and told I wasn't welcome?

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Never ran into this myself. Thanks for your Service Uncle Al! If you had entered and if challenged showed them your MI then they should have been OK with you being there.

 

[docpadds]

My two kids are in the store a lot over the summer, free child labor to help unload when the deliveries come, and help with processing firearms orders etc.

 

[rattletrap1970]

I've had my CT. pistol permit since I was 18 (couldn't purchase a handgun till I was 21, state law). I don't recall any signs saying under 21 were not allowed, but they did say to keep your kids under control.

 

[SSN Vet]

KTP (very large privately owned outfitter similar to LL Bean, Cabelas, etc...) has an excellent shooting sports department that is, imo, very well run. (has large inventory, gives reasonable trade ins, knowledgeable staff, etc...)

They will not pull a hand gun out of the glass case for a customer, unless the customer is eligable to buy it. (i.e. 21)

Generally speaking, if you look 21, the clerk will just ask you and take your word for it.

I've not seen them do an i.d. chekc, but I suspect they would if you looked <21).

The last time I was there, waiting in line at the register, some numb nuts was dancing around with a shot gun off the rack, striking rambo poses, while two teeny bopper chicks snapped cell phone pics of him. I motioned to the clerk and said "if he points that at me, I'm going to go over there and stuff it up his a$$", and the guy was promplty chased out of the dept.

Point being. These type of rules, laws and poliicies most always come about as a response to a problem. And in typical American fashion, we punish everybody else, instead of the bad actors.

 

[postalnut25]

I've had good luck with my local Gander Mountain. When I bought my ^yo daughter her first pistol, they said they had to hand the pistol to me, then I could hand it to her. They gave me no problems for letting my little girl handle her pistol. They also got the sale, because the customer service was good.

 

[22-rimfire]

I have seen signs in stores that a parent or guardian must be present to handle guns for folks under 18.

 

[Kingofthehill]

Hahaha... How stupid...

at 18 i was buying 3-5k competition shotguns and thousands of rounds of ammo. Not to mention my rifles i was buying and reloading gear.

JOe

 

[CraigC]

I can understand not wanting unsupervised minors in a gun shop but I've been a gun nut since around age 12 and started buying guns without Dad on my 18th birthday. However, that time has long past and the kids these days just ain't the same. If most of them were like the OP it would be a different world but most of them just ain't.