Horrified store clerk

Read the quote above my comments-----not talking about the OP. Talking about the Wal-Mart clerk.

I hear you. In that case I agree to take it up with management if you don't like the store policy. Or shop somewhere else.

My apology for not catching your quote.
 
Recent posts have got me wondering...Do store clerks really have to ask? I've never been asked for what firearm my ammo was intended.

Because of GCA68, you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo, but can buy rifle ammo at 18,

When that ammo crosses the scanner, the register asks the clerk "is that for a pistol or a rifle?"

Whichever answer is given, the register will then ask if the customer is old enough.

If the clerk knows the reason for the question, when I go up there she looks at me - old, bald, what's left is gray - and punches "rifle" and "yes" when the register asks if I'm over 18. I'm obviously over 21, so there is no reason for her to ask me the question.

If, however, the clerk does not know why the register wants to know, or if you look young enough that it might apply, she is going to ask.

A few years ago I bought a copy of a Brian Keith movie called The Mountain Men. I noticed, as it went over the scanner, the register asked, "Is customer over 18?" Apparently it was an R-rated movie. I bought a knife sheath. Not a knife - just a nylon belt sheath - for my leatherman. And just like with the movie, when it went over the scanner the register asked if I was 18.

Neither time did the clerk ask me, because it was obvious I was old enough to buy them. But if I'd looked like I was under 20, she'd have asked for a picture ID, or she wouldn't have sold them.

So, when they ask you, just answer. Don't be a jerk. They don't care what you are shooting it in, any more than they care if you are going to roll that Prince Albert or put it in a pipe, or whether you plan to drink that kool ade or use it to dye your hair. They really dont' care. But the company requires they ask. The company and the Feds.
 
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Because of GCA68, you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo, but can buy rifle ammo at 18,

When that ammo crosses the scanner, the register asks the clerk "is that for a pistol or a rifle?"

Whichever answer is given, the register will then ask if the customer is old enough.

If the clerk knows the reason for the question, when I go up there she looks at me - old, bald, what's left is gray - and punches "rifle" and "yes" when the register asks if I'm over 18. I'm obviously over 21, so there is no reason for her to ask me the question.

If, however, the clerk does not know why the register wants to know, or if you look young enough that it might apply, she is going to ask.

A few years ago I bought a copy of a Brian Keith movie called The Mountain Men. I noticed, as it went over the scanner, the register asked, "Is customer over 18?" Apparently it was an R-rated movie. I bought a knife sheath. Not a knife - just a nylon belt sheath - for my leatherman. And just like with the movie, when it went over the scanner the register asked if I was 18.

Neither time did the clerk ask me, because it was obvious I was old enough to buy them. But if I'd looked like I was under 20, she'd have asked for a picture ID, or she wouldn't have sold them.

So, when they ask you, just answer. Don't be a jerk. They don't care what you are shooting it in, any more than they care if you are going to roll that Prince Albert or put it in a pipe, or whether you plan to drink that kool ade or use it to dye your hair. They really dont' care. But the company requires they ask. The company and the Feds.

Oh. Duh.

I haven't been asked for ID to buy anything since I was 15.
 
[QUOTEDuring checkout, the woman clerk recoiled in fear at the sight of ammunition and said "A little extreme, don't you think?" and gave me the stink-eye.

Not really any worse than we ran into in Wally World. Wife wanted to buy some sort of indoor shrub or bush.

The aisle was blocked by a clerk getting reamed out by a supervisor. The clerk was already crying.

Wife asked...May I get by....Supervisor looked around and said, "Can't you see I am busy!"

Her associate ID was turned over and wife asked for her name and the supervisor yelled, "MIND YOU OWN BUSINESS!!!"
[/QUOTE]

Had a similar situation when married to my first wife. My reaction was a bit different though. My temper/attitude got the best of me and I offered to "whoop his candy ***", and then my language became more colorful after that. His demeanor changed quickly, becoming very quiet and avoiding eye contact while walking away quickly. My wife couldn't have been more proud and embarassed at the same time. I would guess that manager never yelled at another woman while he worked there.
 
I have been around firearms all my life. The overwhelming majority of people have not. What I take as routine and normative is for them not at all routine much less normative. It is understandable that the lady running the cash register would not have any knowledge of firearms/ammunition. Given the bad press common to firearms in the msm, her reaction as described in the OP is understandable.
 
maybe living in the north for over 45 years has had a numbing effect on the way i react to things, but i am not surprised at what seems to fall from peoples mouths at stores like whateverworld or the like, in traffic or even at T-ball games, much less what some say about my ammo purchases.
 
I have taken it up with the store managers! And I only buy 22 ammo when it is on sale. Its still none of the stores business!
 
Here in Tennessee we're REQUIRED to show ID to buy beer - But not wine or hard liquor.
Our tax dollars at work.........
 
I have been around firearms all my life. The overwhelming majority of people have not. What I take as routine and normative is for them not at all routine much less normative. It is understandable that the lady running the cash register would not have any knowledge of firearms/ammunition. Given the bad press common to firearms in the msm, her reaction as described in the OP is understandable.

I agree. I read a sociological study a number of years back about urban/rural differences in attitudes toward firearms. Growing up in North Dakota all my experiences with guns were positive and in a friendly social context.

I was checking a 1911 and a Beretta Tomcat through the Miami airport and the urban airline employee lady asked me to open the gun case and when she saw the guns said " Ah hates guns ". Her attitude was probably formed by quite negative experiences with guns. I can see where she is coming from as I had heard numerous stories from my son who was working in Liberty City at the time.

BTW, my reply to her was " Ah loves guns ".
 
I applaud your diplomacy. In the same situation, I probably would have replied, "You're not employed here to pass judgment on customer's purchases. Just bag my bullets and give me my blanking change."
 
I applaud your diplomacy. In the same situation, I probably would have replied, "You're not employed here to pass judgment on customer's purchases. Just bag my bullets and give me my blanking change."

that's what i was thinking, there's no need for employees giving their "editorial" to any customer. they're there to collect money and that's it.
 
a few years ago i met a family that didnt let their young son play with toy guns or any toy that had "shooters" on them... i felt uncomfortable in their home, it seemed wrong . i said nothing of my beliefs or that i thought they were wrong but ive never forgotten my brush with those kind of people .
the father stole a largish sum of money from my home, i confronted him with the facts and he called the cops on me saying i showed him my 9mm...i own revolvers !no autos then at all! i explained everything to the judge the thief didnt show for the hearing i was given a 1$ peace bond for one year??? id call it a waste of time, but ive never seen the guy since (or my dough)
but those people are out there ...some work in stores
 
What if it had been handled this way?

(Clerk)
"A little extreme, don't you think?"

(Gun Owner, smiling)
"Let me guess, you've never shot a firearm?

(Clerk)
"No, of course not!"

(Gun Owner, still smiling)
"It's a great sport, you do know it's an Olympic event? Would you like to go with me and the wife and try it!?
No? Well you have a great day! Thanks!"

You bought ammo to use in your firearm... don't give people like that ammo to use on us... be positive!
 
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What if it had been handled this way?

(Clerk)
"A little extreme, don't you think?"

(Gun Owner, smiling)
"Let me guess, you've never shot a firearm?

(Clerk)
"No, of course not!"

(Gun Owner, still smiling)
"It's a great sport, you do know it's an Olympic event? Would you like to go with me and the wife and try it!?
No? Well you have a great day! Thanks!"

You bought ammo to use in your firearm... don't give people like that ammo to use on us... be positive!
I think the OP did just fine. Hindsight is 20/20. In my experience, people who have a deep seated prejudice won't be swayed by one "positive" experience. It is a waste of time to try to enlighten them if you are only seeing them rarely. OTOH, if it is someone that you regularly see, the effort may actually be worth the time and effort.
 
"It is a waste of time to try to enlighten them if you are only seeing them rarely."

But, I wonder how many "crazy gun owners" go through her line!?
 
I sure avoid an awful lot of this by being a handloader. I don't shoot much 22, and when I do, it's usually CCI Green Tab, which I get from my LGS. I have ammo boxes full of fired cases for handloading, and probably over two dozen bullet moulds, so I just buy powder and primers, again from my LGS. I buy lead and type metal for moulding on line. In the past dozen years or so, I've bought less than 10 boxes of ammo; specialty ammo for a newly purchasd handgun, like Speer gold dot short barrel 38 +P for my 638. Again most of this comes from my LGS. If you handload you get to stay away from the great unwashed at Wally World.
 
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