Turners Gun Examination Policy

[cannon]

They take your license in case you decide to run out the door with the gun.

No big deal to me. Can't blame a business from trying to protect itself.

[loademup]

I can't comment on the CDL, but I've done complete revolver inspections that included looking down barrels at Turners a few times and they didn't have a problem with it. However before I looked down the barrel I explained what I needed to do and and why, then I asked them if they had a problem with it and they didn't.

It might be helpful to explain to the salesman why you need to look down the barrel and cycle through the action before you do anything. A good thorough inspection proves you know a little bit about firearms and it could put them at ease a little bit while your handling it.

Communication might be a good policy for examining any firearm that isn't yours on someone else's premises. Always good to ask first....just an opinion.

I would walk now if any dealer/seller will not let me give a firearm at least a cursory non-invasive examination of the action or barrel for a used firearm. I don't think opening the action or looking down the barrel is too much to ask, but always will ask first and practice safe handling while doing it. And the action should be cleared by yourself before doing it and if the salesman is dumb enough to hand you a firearm without checking himself first.

[Dan_Eastvale]

Actually, I'm originally from California. Always saw Driver License abbreviated as DL and thought Commercial Driver License anytime I saw CDL. Never heard anybody refer to their Oregon Driver License as an ODL.

CDL officialy means commercial in CA as well.
Never heard ODL or UDL or ADL. OR, UT, AZ. Etc.

Turners has always had an overabundance of caution with their FUD as well.

[The Gleam]

When did Turner’s start with the CDL request just to look/hold gun? That only happened to me once at a pawn shop and I declined. I never needed to show/hand over CDL in the years of gun shopping.

Why would he need to see your Commercial Driver License before letting you look at a rifle?

I seem to recall this going back at least to 10 to 15 years ago or more. My recollection of the reason for this protocol is that:

1) Reportedly at the Pasadena store, as well as one or two others in their chain over the years, a salesman passed the gun to a customer where the customer then proceeded an attempt to load the gun with ammo they brought with them to either steal the gun (makes it easy now that it's loaded) or rob the store.

One example I heard of this, verified as a Turner's incident - was quite comical; that the thug/gang-banger wanna-be asked to see a "45" and out of sarcastic spite, the salesman handed the prospect customer a Ruger in .45 Colt - and said thug/gang-banger wanna-be then tried loading it with some .45ACP he brought with him.

After failing, and the salesman seeing what thug/gang-banger wanna-be was trying to do, he was chased from the store.

2) Most Turners salesman are not allowed to conceal carry or open-carry a side-arm, so it leaves them at the mercy of someone trying to pull some crap like the above.

And THOSE were the reasons I have heard that Turners requires ID before letting you finger a gun.

[Jeepergeo]

I went to Turners last week to buy some ammo. They did not have any 12 gauge ammo I could use at Clays range, but a Marlin Lever Action that they had in the used gun rack struck my fancy. I asked to see it and they wanted my CDL before I could look at it and then the salesman was freaking out that when I was looking at the action and since I am right handed the rifle was aimed to my rear but at a 60 degree angle up so as to not point it at anybody. The salesman however claimed that I was pointing it at people in the store. I was not wildly waving the rifle, I had the barrel elevated and I was looking at the action to see how used the rifle was. I humored him so I turned around and pointed the barrel at the same angle toward the counter. I then started to look down the barrel to see the condition of the bore, and then he really freaked out because I was pointing the rifle at myself. I then decided to leave and wondered to myself why I even bothered to ever go there at all. I never had this type of experience pre-Covid. I have been shooting and hunting for over 20 years and I know proper gun handling. Was there an AD at Turners recently that caused this hypersensitivity? How are you supposed to buy a 20+ year old rifle if you can't inspect the bore? Should I take a video borescope next time I want to look at a barrel? I am sure they would freak out if I removed the bolt on a bolt action to check the bore from loading side, but it would not even be possible for a lever action. I guess I they expect us to buy a "pig in a poke".

Now I know why I don't go there anymore, except that I needed some shotgun ammo to go Sporting Clays shooting last weekend. Luckily the range had some that I could buy and shoot.

It sounds like you sent up a bunch of red flags like looky-loo, inexperienced, big talker, thus they were trying to courtesyily tell you to buy or move along.

I've had great experiences at Turners, with my only complaint being having to wait sometimes for a looky-loo, talker, non buyer that gets tweaked when asked to not work the actions. Fortunately, most of the sales team knows me and get to me pretty quick.

[Oceanbob]

Turners is just being prudent.

I remember back in 07 the San Bernardino Turners was armed Robbed.

Two people were shot by SBPD and killed, another 2 were captured.

We actually need turners to succeed. They have been (during normal times)
responsible for about 1/2 of the daily DROS entries everyday.

Be well
Bob

[SanDiego619]

Actually, I'm originally from California. Always saw Driver License abbreviated as DL and thought Commercial Driver License anytime I saw CDL. Never heard anybody refer to their Oregon Driver License as an ODL.

That always gets me too. Why not just say DL? CDL = Commercial driver's license.

[ACfixer]

Someone had a drama filled gun buying experience at Turners... now that's a first.

[Yodaman]

I've only encountered this 1-2x in my life. In a way makes sense if you don't have it you can't buy a gun. I know a guy that doesn't like to show guns unless you have a FSC or exemption.

Ammo Bros won't show you LE only guns if you are not LE that makes sense too and DOJ says that is correct as well.

[Like2fly]

I usually prefer using small “mom and pop” gun shops but I don’t understand all the hate for Turners and other bigger gun stores. They have their advantages and disadvantages, and being stores with a higher volume of customer interactions you are going to be stories to rant about. For every sales person (in any size store) that I have seen who appears to be a knucklehead I have seen ten times as many scary customers who I will not turn a blind eye to if they are handed a gun to examine. Considering how many times other customers have flagged me in a gun shop, I actually prefer sales people to bit a bit anal or extreme on safety. And some one proclaiming their knowledge or years of experience means nothing to me if I don’t know you. I judge your gun safety by your actions. Simply saying “I know what I am doing” is akin to all those viral videos that start with the subject saying “hey, watch this......”.

[Like2fly]

I usually prefer using small “mom and pop” gun shops but I don’t understand all the hate for Turners and other bigger gun stores. They have their advantages and disadvantages, and being stores with a higher volume of customer interactions there are going to be more stories to rant about. For every sales person (in any size store) that I have seen who appears to be a knucklehead I have seen ten times as many scary customers who I will not turn a blind eye to if they are handed a gun to examine. Considering how many times other customers have flagged me in a gun shop, I actually prefer sales people to bit a bit anal or extreme on safety. And some one proclaiming their knowledge or years of experience means nothing to me if I don’t know you. I judge your gun safety by your actions. Simply saying “I know what I am doing” is akin to all those viral videos that start with the subject saying “hey, watch this......”.

[Stumpfenhammer]

https://youtu.be/BueTT_tT_Yk?t=26

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKIjDrYlMx3/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cjTrSXNCc4

https://youtu.be/KUonA66btgI

[Maulerrr]

It doesn't matter how old the gun is. If you're buying used, that warrants a gander down the bore of the gun!

[I Swan]

Might just be a DOJ opinion. I'm too lazy to search for it but there is a thread about it somewhere on Calguns probably on the Ammo Bros subforum.

In any case why waste time showing people that can't buy a gun those guns?

[MrFancyPants]

snapping a revolver sideways to close the cylinder. All kinds......

LOL, back when I was first learning about firearms and how to handle them, I did this once in a store with a revolver I was looking at. The sales guy just said you shouldn't do that, and explained why. No problem, I learned something and didn't do it again. I respected his calm demeanor and not flying off the handle.

I get that the sales guys can get irate considering the amount of morons they have to deal with on a daily basis. It does pay to stay calm and professional however, for the times when somebody just needs to be taught the right way to do something.

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