Buying guns and ammo

[Guest]

Is it true that here in Kaliban a store can't sell you ammo on the same day you pick up the gun (after the government 10 day lay-away period) I witnessed this in a Big 5 yesterday. Sales person also made the guy select a gun lock, go up front to the cashier and pay for it, and then bring the receipt back to the gun counter before releasing the gun to him. Then the salesman informed him that there are no refunds on gun locks. Seems to me that which ever salesman originally wrote up the sale should have sold him a lock at that time, and the ammo, too. At the very least he should have informed the buyer at that time. The rules and regulations and the hoops of fire that the stores and custumers have to jump through are ridiculous! Any comments? Peace and God bless, Wolfsong.

[bwiese]

As far as ammo/gun not sold on same day, that's simply store/chain policy, not law. It might not even be policy of the chain, just the local manager not knowing what to do...


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[jdberger]

THAT is the dumbest thing i ever heard!

And a pretty good reason not to shop at Big 5. Lots of small businesses are happy to take your money and treat you right...

[icormba]

Originally posted by wolfsong:
Sales person also made the guy select a gun lock, go up front to the cashier and pay for it, and then bring the receipt back to the gun counter before releasing the gun to him.

A particular local gun shop did this same thing to me! I asked about the safe affidavit, but they said I couldn't do that and I had to buy a $20 lock from them! bastards! I won't buy from sportsman's again!

[Guest]

A particular local gun shop did this same thing to me! I asked about the safe affidavit, but they said I couldn't do that and I had to buy a $20 lock from them! bastards! I won't buy from sportsman's again!

Strange. I've bought a few guns from a particular local store on Camden Ave, and on all but the first one, I used the safe affidavit and they had no problem with that. They do, however, require that they bring the receipt for the safe, and that the receipt shows clearly that the safe is CA 12088 approved. They had no problem with the fact that the receipt was from Trader Sports.

In other cases, I chose to buy a lock anyhow. I like to have enough locks at home that I can lock every gun I own; useful for example if you want to go to the range with a range of different guns. I guess for people who have a lot of guns (more than you would ever go out with at once), this would become silly.

In general, I've found that particular store on Camden Ave to be quite competent and friendly, and quite a bit less expensive than a large store in eastern San Jose (which is, to be fair, extremely well stocked, and has highly competent and friendly staff).

[bwiese]

If you have a gun safe, you can fill out an affadavit where you swear to the state that you own a compliant gunsafe. No receipt is required for the affadavit.

That puts the matter between the gun buyer and state of CA, and isolates the gun dealer from these issues. You are swearing to this under penalty of perjury.

For Sportsmen's Supply to require a receipt is their own twist (or just lack of knowledge). I have a nice safe. Gawd knows where the receipt is. If they pulled that crap on me at the last minute, I'd kill the deal (gun transaction) - they'd prob try to put me on the hook for DROS papers but if it's on credit card I'd stop payment for that (would have to write a letter, etc.)


Bill Wiese
San Jose

[imported_wallysparx]

gotta love another fellow happy big 5 customer.

when i went, the only lock they considered CA approved was naturally the most expensive one they had in stock. luckily for me, the sales person was a merciful soul and i returned the lock immediately.

never heard of the ammo thing though. in fact whenever i buy guns at turners, the first thing they do after releasing my new toy is offer ammo and accessories. oh well, their loss of business.

[icormba]

Originally posted by treelogger:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">A particular local gun shop did this same thing to me! I asked about the safe affidavit, but they said I couldn't do that and I had to buy a $20 lock from them! bastards! I won't buy from sportsman's again!

Strange. I've bought a few guns from a particular local store on Camden Ave, and on all but the first one, I used the safe affidavit and they had no problem with that. They do, however, require that they bring the receipt for the safe, and that the receipt shows clearly that the safe is CA 12088 approved. They had no problem with the fact that the receipt was from Trader Sports.

In other cases, I chose to buy a lock anyhow. I like to have enough locks at home that I can lock every gun I own; useful for example if you want to go to the range with a range of different guns. I guess for people who have a lot of guns (more than you would ever go out with at once), this would become silly.

In general, I've found that particular store on Camden Ave to be quite competent and friendly, and quite a bit less expensive than a large store in eastern San Jose (which is, to be fair, extremely well stocked, and has highly competent and friendly staff). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


They used to be GREAT!
but yeah... I didn't have my safe receipt that I had bought 10 years before! From them even!

This wasn't the only bad vibe I've gotten from them these past 2 years. I had bought a gun from them for $350 (special order) that I loved and wanted another...

6 months to 1 year later I went in and asked what they are going for now and that I wanted another. Quote from them "I can get that for you for $550".

DAMN!! I knew it would be more, but $200 more!!
I told him I had bought the same gun from them about a year ago for $350. He said "sorry buddy, that wasn't here.".

p.s. The one you mentioned in east San Jose is the only gun store I have not purchased from.

Here's a list of all the shops I've bought either a Handgun or Rifle:

Sportsman's (used to be good) Sometimes I feel I should give them another try, but every time I go in there they are giving some poor sucker the business.

Irvington arms (Great, who's nicer than Martin?)

Big 5
(3 of them: Santa Clara, San Jose (Blossom Hill, Sunnyvale)(don't need them anymore)

Kurley's (OK, nice clean store)

The Gun Exchange (OK, tons of old stuff!)

Target Masters (they used to be good, way too expensive now)

National Shooting Club (gone, cheap, but RUDE)

Little shop in Santa Clara off Pomeroy?
(not much of a selection, but nice old guy)

Some gunshop in Mt. View, not sure if it's there anymore?

Reeds (never bought a gun there, good selection though, but $$$$)

Traders (they are the Fry's of Gun Stores! some people HATE Fry's, some people LOVE Fry's, but most people still shop there! I try to stay away now! glad they are so far away!)

Don't forget... some people get treated differently at different places. I don't look like a "typical" gun owner (whatever that means?), so maybe I don't get treated like one?

Maybe I'll try that for kicks? go in there in my camo and hunting jacket?

[icormba]

Originally posted by bwiese:
If you have a gun safe, you can fill out an affadavit where you swear to the state that you own a compliant gunsafe. No receipt is required for the affadavit.

That puts the matter between the gun buyer and state of CA, and isolates the gun dealer from these issues. You are swearing to this under penalty of perjury.

For Sportsmen's Supply to require a receipt is their own twist (or just lack of knowledge). I have a nice safe. Gawd knows where the receipt is. If they pulled that crap on me at the last minute, I'd kill the deal (gun transaction) - they'd prob try to put me on the hook for DROS papers but if it's on credit card I'd stop payment for that (would have to write a letter, etc.)


Bill Wiese
San Jose

Hey Bill,
yeah... most of us know about the safe affidavit now.

It's just sometimes those guys try to get every cent they can. One of the "suckers" I saw had bought a fancy rare old shotgun for a couple grand from out of state. He used them for the transfer. He came in the day I was there. He was fummin' MAD when they told him he couldn't leave the store without a gun lock! The thing is... they didn't even have a gun lock that fit! I'm pretty sure I mentioned this story before? And we all agreed that wasn't right, but it happened anyway.

[dwtt]

Originally posted by icormba:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by wolfsong:
Sales person also made the guy select a gun lock, go up front to the cashier and pay for it, and then bring the receipt back to the gun counter before releasing the gun to him.

A particular local gun shop did this same thing to me! I asked about the safe affidavit, but they said I couldn't do that and I had to buy a $20 lock from them! bastards! I won't buy from sportsman's again! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Montana Hawk in Petaluma did this to me. They made me buy one of their locks before they would do the DROS for a PPT. The law says I need a receipt when I pick up the gun, but judging from how they were making up stuff, like threatening to turn my new gun over to the CA DOJ for destruction if I fail the background check, I decided it was best to buy their overpriced lock than to argue with them. Next time I buy a gun at a local store, I'm going to bring a copy of the DOJ handbook on gun regs, but knowing my luck, the clerk behind the counter might not know how to read english.

[Guest]

I guess a lot depends on which person you get. When I bought two guns at the same time at Reed's, the guy who did the paperwork was utterly clueless, but very friendly. With my help, we managed to do the forms in about 2 hours (it didn't help that their computers were down). In the end, he screwed them up so bad that I had to come back twice, several months later, to sign the forms in the right places.

Some of the guys at Sportsmen's have an attitude, and act as if they were tougher than nails. But they seem competent. When I leave there, I always feel like I was treated fairly, even if they don't smile a lot, and use short sentences.

And remember: there are a lot of gun stores in the bay area. Other than unique used guns, you can buy any gun at any gun store. If you don't like how you are treated, take your business elsewhere.

Speaking of gun stores, the above list forgot a few: Taber and Imbert&Smithers on the Peninsula. Don't know anything about the former, but the latter has a good selection of used hunting rifles and shotguns, and a really good selection.

The other is Castello's, in the Willow Glen district of San Jose, on Lincoln. Seems to be run by two super-friendly older gents, gun smith works right on the premises. Small place, quite a little gem, with lots of really nice long arms, and a great selection of odds and ends (like lots of weird cleaning and lubrication supplies). Never bought anything there, but enjoyed hanging out for 1/2 hour.

[Pulsar]

Buying gun locks?!

I know at my local police department I can just walk in and ask for a gun lock and they give me one for free, sometimes several. I know my old home town had a similar policy. Might look into it for your own location.

[imported_EOD Guy]

Originally posted by wallysparx:
gotta love another fellow happy big 5 customer.

when i went, the only lock they considered CA approved was naturally the most expensive one they had in stock. luckily for me, the sales person was a merciful soul and i returned the lock immediately.

never heard of the ammo thing though. in fact whenever i buy guns at turners, the first thing they do after releasing my new toy is offer ammo and accessories. oh well, their loss of business.

You should have been able to buy any lock they had in stock. It is illegal for a dealer to stock a nonapproved gun lock.

As to the ammo thing, a lot of stores won't sell you the gun and ammo at the same time. You can just take the gun out to your car and then come back in and buy the ammunition.

I didn't say it made sense!

[Pulsar]

Never have heard of a case when getting a gunlock from the PD didn't come with a receipt.

And I've gotta get a picture of my classroom, best use of gunlocks I've ever seen.

[Guest]

Originally posted by Technical Ted:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pulsar:
Buying gun locks?!

I know at my local police department I can just walk in and ask for a gun lock and they give me one for free, sometimes several. I know my old home town had a similar policy. Might look into it for your own location.

Law requires that the approved lock was acquired within 30 days prior to you picking up the firearm. Unless you can get a receipt from the PD or org (Sunnyvale Rod & Gun often has a box of them sitting next to their entrance) giving away those locks, you're **** out of luck. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It is true that in California it is the law that you a) either own a safe that meets california requirements and fill out an affidavit stating so (under penalty or perjury) which is a felony or b) have a lockbox (for handguns) and must have the receipt to prove it and bring the lock box on pickup or c) purchase a California approved gun-lock, if the manufacturerer does not include one. This must be done at the time of purchase and since you and the dealer must sign documents swearing that all of these criteria are met you can;t do that unless all of the requirements are fulfilled. Unfortunately, most of the gun-locks that are given out at police stations are not on the approved list on Firearms use limitation devices list. The gun retailer has no choice and neither does the buyer. All of the above also applies to Private Party Transfers as well. You can buy your own lock elsewhere but you must have the receipt showing that it was purchased with in the 30 days prior to the gun purchase. It is illegal for the retailer to buy back the gunlock unless the sale is cancelled, either by the purchaser or DOJ. Doing so is skirting the law and not following the intent of the law to purchase of have a FULD with each firearm sold.I am not saying I agree with the law but it is the law. The seller must also copy the documentation of the lock purchase or safe ownership affidavit or lockbox receipt and file it with the DROS. Some dealers refuse to have any other locks than one purchased from them connected to the gun sale. You can hardly blame them when they have to prove that the lock was an approved device and that it was purchased within the 30 days. All businesses probably have their own way of identifying their items for sale and the only way they can be sure it is correct is have you do it there. Even if they only charge you a penny for the lock at least they have proof that you bought one.