Felony Stupidity

[AK103K]

Yeah, it's original... original Photoshop.

As far as I know it is. Still, pretty clever and always good for a "discussion", with the right crowd.

 

[Slamfire]

A guy I know works in a gun store and he got in trouble because he provided reasons to the customer why the customer could not have shot coyotes at 1800 yards with his M4 look alike carbine.

My friend is a Distinguished HM with a service rifle, that that don't mean squat to the general public and does not mean squat to the Store Manager who only wants profit. The Store Manager was right, getting into debates with idiots is pointless, all you want is their $$.

I am glad I do not work retail. Dealing with the general public does not appear to be something that a sarcastic person, like me, would handle well.

 

[chhodge69]

I just hate stupid people. They should have to wear signs that say "I'm Stupid". That way you wouldn't rely on them, and you wouldn't ask them for nothing.

Bill Engvall

One LGS in my town treats their shop like a gun show. They have a counter at the door barring access to the rest of the store. Everyone (except CCW and LEO) entering the store with a gun must have it checked out and tagged by an off-duty cop working the counter. I think that should tend to weed out some felons.

 

[rsrocket1]

You forgot one of the most obvious additions to the MFR stamp. You probably never drove by that "weapons factory" and saw the sign from the freeway:

 

[Standing Wolf]

I used to work in a gun shop. I didn't encounter very many downright dumb prospects or customers, but a few now and then.

I had an advantage: a high school pointed out 50% of us are below average on any and all scales.

 

[monet61]

"Monkey with the last banana". That's funny right there, never heard it before. With your permission, I intend to add it to my library of quotations.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

And then I know of a dealer that swears up and down that Mattel made M16s during Vietnam.

If memory serves me correctly, and I am getting old so it doesn't at times, that "myth", "rumor", "bs story", or whatever you wish to call it, got started when the "plastic rifle" was first introduced to the soldiers. They were all saying things like "damn thing is built like a toy" and things like that and the "rumor" got started that it must be made by Mattel*

 

[Jenrick]

JohnBT: At least in Texas we do have

Sec. 42.01. DISORDERLY CONDUCT. (a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly:
(1) uses abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place, and the language by its very utterance tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;

I will say that in my time as an LEO, I have seen more then my fair share of parents fire off a blue streak of profanity in front of their children (or some times at their children). I have also seen quiet a few children (some barely old enough to get into an argument) return the favor.

-Jenrick

 

[Shadow 7D]

And Mattel, a pioneer in plastic molding, got tapped to make some of that wonder plastic, my understanding was that Mattel was subcontracted by one of the original contracts to make the plastic on the M16

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

After a bit of research, I ran across some things that lead me to believe that Mattel did in fact manufacture a FEW of the grips on the original Armalite first runs that went to the Air Force. NOT the ones that went to Spec. Ops Army. They did in fact have "Mattel" molded into the grips.

Now, weather or not this is a FACT or not, I have yet to see any real proof. This was just from a few places is some quick research. I was pre-teen when the M16 was introduced so I do not have first hand knowledge. Just going by what some that were actually there and had these rifles.

As far as that picture of the "Mattel M16" that is a very good photoshop. If you look closely where it is stamped " Home of Barbie" you can see that is type set bolder and not actually stamped. Still a good P-Shop though. I got a good giggle from that.

 

[AlexanderA]

The attitudes and behaviors (on the part of the public) mentioned in this thread are some of the many reasons I gave up my FFL. I didn't need the aggravation any more than I needed the (small) amount of money from the gun business.

 

[Skribs]

Those saying you shouldn't use profanity around children...you've never played a first-person shooter with voice enabled, have you? The 6-year-olds on Counter-Strike are the most foul-mouthed people I've ever heard, and I work with an ex-bubblehead.

 

[medalguy]

I think anyone who's ever worked retail can agree with a statement a buddy of mine made: "The public is an idiot." It's certainly not limited to the firearms business.

 

[hermannr]

Think about it this way. Is this any different than the person that never checks his oil, then goes to the dealer and complains that his engine won't turn over? Or leaves his headlights on, and complains when he finds the battery dead? Or gets his brand new Super Duty diesel, runs it out of fuel, and then wonders why it will not start....I put fuel in it>>>>

Anyway, instead of degrading these customers who may not have the experience you have, how about turning it into a little old education (it's called customer service). You might be surprised how much extra new business it would generate.

Not everyone in the world has the education (masters degree) and experience I have (I'm old enough to be retired), but I will guarantee that there are things that your "dumb" customer knows, that I do not.

Everyone has their own +/- in education and experience. Everyone has their own life as they have lived it. If you can add to their education, you have done a good thing. If you just call them dumb, and walk away, you are dumber then they are.

Pulling someone else down, will never raise you above them.

 

[dbarnhart]

The planet is infested with the glacially stupid.

 

[Sport45]

If you look closely where it is stamped " Home of Barbie" you can see that is type set bolder and not actually stamped. Still a good P-Shop though. I got a good giggle from that.

Did you notice the "Home of Barbie" bit wasn't on the first picture posted? I think that was a more recent photoshop.

 

[Ringolevio]

"The Mighty Mattel"

Freedom_fighter_in_IL

Quote:
"And then I know of a dealer that swears up and down that Mattel made M16s during Vietnam."
If memory serves me correctly, and I am getting old so it doesn't at times, that "myth", "rumor", "bs story", or whatever you wish to call it, got started when the "plastic rifle" was first introduced to the soldiers. They were all saying things like "damn thing is built like a toy" and things like that and the "rumor" got started that it must be made by Mattel

Photoshopped pic or not, Freedom_fighter_in_IL is correct. Grunts in Vietnam referred to the M-16 as the "Mighty Mattel". N.B., from the Leatherneck.com Forum archives, http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-8296.html:

The decades-old argument over the ineffectiveness of the “Mighty Mattel,” as the M-16 was once known – because of its composite plastic and aluminum handgrip stamped with the “Mattel” logo when the rifles were first introduced – has dramatically resurfaced almost 30 years after its introduction.

Consider also that most Vietnam-era troops had grown up playing with toy guns that were made by Mattel and were advertised on TV with the slogan, "You can tell it's Mattel -- it's swell!"

 

[MachIVshooter]

Funny........I find just as frequently the idiocy originates on the employee side of the counter.

when someone picks a gun up for someone else (not a straw purchase, I asked the ATF about that)

Better ask again, and make sure you're talking to the ATF. That most certainly is a straw purchase.

Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form? Warning: You are not the actual buyer if you are
acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual buyer, the dealer cannot transfer the firearm(s)
to you. (See Instructions for Question II.a.) Exception: If you are picking up a repaired firearm for another person, you are not
required to answer II.a. and may proceed to question II.b.

 

[wristtwister]

Good perspectives all, folks... I took the day "off" from sales yesterday and just spent time putting up stock, mounting and boresighting scopes and cleaning the shop. I dealt with customers I knew and are "regulars" there, but I left the idiocy to the rest of the sales staff for a day...

Funny, but you can tell what kind of customer they're dealing with when they go to the back to get the box for the gun they're selling... rolling their eyes, shaking their heads, or looking at you and then doing a "shiver"...

Even with all this, it's still a good job if you like firearms... and I get to play with a lot of nice toys (often before they go public). I had the same problem of dealing with idiots when doing engineering, but most of those were just examples of inexperience... not stupidity.

Oh, by the way Double Naught Spy... I realize I'm not a cop and that "hooking them up" isn't my job... it was allegorical to the people acting like "felony stupid perps"... some of them take it to a high art form.

WT

 

[bonza]

I've worked in gun stores on two continents, & I can assure you stupidity is universal!

 

[ironhead7544]

Twice I have been handed a loaded gun in a gunshop. So caution is advised on both side of the counter.

Check the chamber. There was one shop that didnt allow working the action. He is out of business now but I was very careful in there.

 

[Pegwedge]

Better ask again, and make sure you're talking to the ATF. That most certainly is a straw purchase.

I asked the ATF agent when he did our inspection.

 

[ultradoc]

There are stupid people in every line of work. I drive a delivery truck and..well..never mind. Don't get me started.

 

[Panzercat]

Dealing with gun shoppers all day is turning into a lesson in just how stupid some people in the public really are.

Who's the guy who sold these people guns, anyway?
Oh, right.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.snopes.com/military/m16.asp