Guitargod1985
Member
I think we've all gone through hell or jumped through some hoops to buy a gun before. Today was just such a day for me, so I figured I'd tell my story.
It all started about two months ago when I was living in St. Petersburg (Tampa area). I was visiting Lake Mary (Orlando metro area) while on spring break from college, and I happened to wander in to the Gander Mountain to take a look at some things. I figured I needed to get a good look at what I should buy with the excuse of "stimulating the economy."
I saw some very nice guns, but as usual, most were a bit overpriced (don't get me started on the ammunition). All of a sudden, my eye was caught by a rack of Mosin Nagant M44s. I must say that I never really saw the appeal of the Mosins, but then I held one, cycled the action, checked the parts, and fell in love. Most were in fair shape for military surplus guns, but one in particular had a very smooth action, crisp rifling, matching wood with few dings -- altogether an exceptional piece. I didn't have the money at the time, so I figured someone would snatch it up and I'd have to settle for a crappy one at the gun shows.
Fast forward to today:
I moved back to Lake Mary less than two weeks ago and immediately started my summer semester at Seminole Community College. I also found a job, which I will be starting this weekend. I burned through my tax refund paying my apartment's security deposit, car insurance, and other expenses, but I received my stimulus package in my checking account a couple days ago.
So today after my classes, I walk into the Gander Mountain, and lo and behold, my beloved M44 was still there. I filled out a 4473 and hand the guy my driver license, and he says, "you moved?" Apparently I need to have a government issued identification that matches my current address as listed on Form 4473.
So the gentleman kindly tells me he'll hold the rifle while I go to the DMV in Winter Springs to get a new DL with my current address. Here's where things get interesting. I figured they'd need some documentation with my current address so I stopped by the bank in Longwood to change my address and get a statement with the address on it. That took me 30 minutes or so. Then I waited at the DMV for an hour and a half. When my turn finally came, they told me that an at-fault auto accident I was involved in last year was never "handled" and that the other parties were never compensated by my insurance company.
They told me that if I did not prove I had insurance on the date of the accident, my license would be suspended on Monday. Furthermore, I'm supposed to get statements from these other parties saying that they have indeed been compensated. :banghead: This is TOTAL BULL$#**, as I had insurance and made sure that the claim was handled. 
I just spent two hours on the phone with the insurance company and the DMV and I still have to wait for some papers to be mailed to me on Thursday. I have to leave my Calculus class early (not good - I need all the help I can get) so I can make sure this is handled Thursday. The DMV is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and I'm sure as heck not testing my luck driving on a suspended license Monday.
All this just because I wanted a gun. But at least I know I have a problem to deal with. If I hadn't tried buying a gun today, I would probably have first learned of a suspension after being pulled over. NOT GOOD.
Anyway, I went back to Gander and put it on layaway so nobody takes it. I'd be UTTERLY pissed if after all this I went back and they had sold it. I'll be picking it up next week when this situation is resolved.
A few lessons:
1. Buying guns is always good, no matter what the wife or girlfriend may tell you. It not only stimulates the economy, it may save you from being arrested for driving on a suspended license.
2. Never trust the government to get anything right, the DMV least of all. This only strengthens my belief that most gov't agencies should be privatized. In the current faceless bureaucracy, there is no accountability and no incentive to set the bar at any minimum level of performance.
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So this begs the question: what are some crazy hoops you've had to jump through to buy a gun you wanted?
I love to hear stories.
It all started about two months ago when I was living in St. Petersburg (Tampa area). I was visiting Lake Mary (Orlando metro area) while on spring break from college, and I happened to wander in to the Gander Mountain to take a look at some things. I figured I needed to get a good look at what I should buy with the excuse of "stimulating the economy."
I saw some very nice guns, but as usual, most were a bit overpriced (don't get me started on the ammunition). All of a sudden, my eye was caught by a rack of Mosin Nagant M44s. I must say that I never really saw the appeal of the Mosins, but then I held one, cycled the action, checked the parts, and fell in love. Most were in fair shape for military surplus guns, but one in particular had a very smooth action, crisp rifling, matching wood with few dings -- altogether an exceptional piece. I didn't have the money at the time, so I figured someone would snatch it up and I'd have to settle for a crappy one at the gun shows.
Fast forward to today:
I moved back to Lake Mary less than two weeks ago and immediately started my summer semester at Seminole Community College. I also found a job, which I will be starting this weekend. I burned through my tax refund paying my apartment's security deposit, car insurance, and other expenses, but I received my stimulus package in my checking account a couple days ago.
So today after my classes, I walk into the Gander Mountain, and lo and behold, my beloved M44 was still there. I filled out a 4473 and hand the guy my driver license, and he says, "you moved?" Apparently I need to have a government issued identification that matches my current address as listed on Form 4473.
So the gentleman kindly tells me he'll hold the rifle while I go to the DMV in Winter Springs to get a new DL with my current address. Here's where things get interesting. I figured they'd need some documentation with my current address so I stopped by the bank in Longwood to change my address and get a statement with the address on it. That took me 30 minutes or so. Then I waited at the DMV for an hour and a half. When my turn finally came, they told me that an at-fault auto accident I was involved in last year was never "handled" and that the other parties were never compensated by my insurance company.
They told me that if I did not prove I had insurance on the date of the accident, my license would be suspended on Monday. Furthermore, I'm supposed to get statements from these other parties saying that they have indeed been compensated. :banghead: This is TOTAL BULL$#**, as I had insurance and made sure that the claim was handled. I just spent two hours on the phone with the insurance company and the DMV and I still have to wait for some papers to be mailed to me on Thursday. I have to leave my Calculus class early (not good - I need all the help I can get) so I can make sure this is handled Thursday. The DMV is closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and I'm sure as heck not testing my luck driving on a suspended license Monday.
All this just because I wanted a gun. But at least I know I have a problem to deal with. If I hadn't tried buying a gun today, I would probably have first learned of a suspension after being pulled over. NOT GOOD.
Anyway, I went back to Gander and put it on layaway so nobody takes it. I'd be UTTERLY pissed if after all this I went back and they had sold it. I'll be picking it up next week when this situation is resolved.
A few lessons:
1. Buying guns is always good, no matter what the wife or girlfriend may tell you. It not only stimulates the economy, it may save you from being arrested for driving on a suspended license.
2. Never trust the government to get anything right, the DMV least of all. This only strengthens my belief that most gov't agencies should be privatized. In the current faceless bureaucracy, there is no accountability and no incentive to set the bar at any minimum level of performance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So this begs the question: what are some crazy hoops you've had to jump through to buy a gun you wanted?
I love to hear stories.
