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So here's the e-mail I sent to Turners' Customer Service. I want to see what they have to say about it before I official pass judgement:
"Today I went to the Corona location in order to conduct a PPT. Before we grabbed a ticket, the gun in question was checked in and our IDs and proof of residency was inspected by a black shirt and were told that we were good to go. Even though we were the third group to enter the store upon opening, we had no less than three individuals claim that they were too incompetent to process PPTs and left us waiting. Eventually one red shirt had the courage to attempt the process, only to tell me that my military ID and active duty orders were not sufficient proof of residency in the state of California (not even considering the fact that I am a native Californian). I tried to educate this employee that PC Section 12071(c)(1) (which is listed on the California Bureau of Firearms website) states that "Satisfactory documentation shall include a utility bill from within the last three months, a residential lease, a property deed, or military permanent duty station orders indicating assignment within this state, or other evidence of residency as permitted by the Department of Justice."
More disconcerting than the ignorance of law were the blatant attempts to fabricate laws and insult my integrity and intelligence. Even though I reside in a barracks with a mailing address through the unit (the name of which is listed in my orders), the red shirt stated that my word was worthless even with the proper documentation. I explained that I have successfully purchased firearms from FFL dealers who have opted for policies more strict than what the law prescribes. The manager came out and made up some non sense about how the "government doesn't want [me] to have guns." He then began to insinuate that I was maliciously trying to break the law and started threatening me with criminal penalties for attempting the transfer.
The most disheartening thing about this debacle isn't that the PPT didn't happen. Even though fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines die when I fail to do my job due to "ignorance" or "incompetence," I understand that in the civilian world, it's safer to not carry out an action due to a lack of understanding. Had these employees just said that "we aren't familiar with active duty orders as a proof of residency and cannot confidently process your transaction," I honestly would've understood and not harbored such ill will. What is ridiculous is that these employees instead resorted to accusing me of being a criminal.
You have personally done me no harm and have gone out of your way to reach out on the Calguns Forum, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to try to rectify this situation before I publicly condemn the Turners chain as a whole to fellow Marines, shooting enthusiasts, and Calgunners. I feel like I deserved better. I know for a fact that any service member who would give his life without hesitation deserves better."
In other news, Annie Got Your Gun, a FFL dealer no more than 10 minutes down the road, earned the PPT fee and an additional retail purchase of a handgun from me.
"Today I went to the Corona location in order to conduct a PPT. Before we grabbed a ticket, the gun in question was checked in and our IDs and proof of residency was inspected by a black shirt and were told that we were good to go. Even though we were the third group to enter the store upon opening, we had no less than three individuals claim that they were too incompetent to process PPTs and left us waiting. Eventually one red shirt had the courage to attempt the process, only to tell me that my military ID and active duty orders were not sufficient proof of residency in the state of California (not even considering the fact that I am a native Californian). I tried to educate this employee that PC Section 12071(c)(1) (which is listed on the California Bureau of Firearms website) states that "Satisfactory documentation shall include a utility bill from within the last three months, a residential lease, a property deed, or military permanent duty station orders indicating assignment within this state, or other evidence of residency as permitted by the Department of Justice."
More disconcerting than the ignorance of law were the blatant attempts to fabricate laws and insult my integrity and intelligence. Even though I reside in a barracks with a mailing address through the unit (the name of which is listed in my orders), the red shirt stated that my word was worthless even with the proper documentation. I explained that I have successfully purchased firearms from FFL dealers who have opted for policies more strict than what the law prescribes. The manager came out and made up some non sense about how the "government doesn't want [me] to have guns." He then began to insinuate that I was maliciously trying to break the law and started threatening me with criminal penalties for attempting the transfer.
The most disheartening thing about this debacle isn't that the PPT didn't happen. Even though fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines die when I fail to do my job due to "ignorance" or "incompetence," I understand that in the civilian world, it's safer to not carry out an action due to a lack of understanding. Had these employees just said that "we aren't familiar with active duty orders as a proof of residency and cannot confidently process your transaction," I honestly would've understood and not harbored such ill will. What is ridiculous is that these employees instead resorted to accusing me of being a criminal.
You have personally done me no harm and have gone out of your way to reach out on the Calguns Forum, so I wanted to give you the opportunity to try to rectify this situation before I publicly condemn the Turners chain as a whole to fellow Marines, shooting enthusiasts, and Calgunners. I feel like I deserved better. I know for a fact that any service member who would give his life without hesitation deserves better."
In other news, Annie Got Your Gun, a FFL dealer no more than 10 minutes down the road, earned the PPT fee and an additional retail purchase of a handgun from me.
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