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 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 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.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!
You sly devil you. What a great pick-up line.A recent exchange, while I was getting new glasses for shooting........
"Why do you want glasses for shooting?"
"So I can see the sights better. Shooting and missing isn't as much fun as shooting and hitting."
"I wouldn't know, I don't like guns, and I've never shot one."
"Well, I've trained women and children to shoot for 30 years, and I'd be happy to take you out for a free lesson, because I think it's one of those things everyone should know how to do, like changing a tire or using a fire extinguisher."
"Hmmm......I never thought of that. You'd teach me for free?"
"Sure, and you can bring a friend if you want, so it's not as scary."
Long story short, she went, she shot, she liked it, and we go shooting every chance we get. She prefers the big-bores!
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Oh, and now she's my girlfriend. And my shooting glasses are awesome!
Do store clerks really have to ask? I've never been asked for what firearm my ammo was intended.
.....Some stores have the clerks query everyone in order to avoid the appearance of age bias.
What would you do if the wal mart greeter asked to see your receipt, checked the ammo and asked you what you were going to use it in
Loose the hounds Baskerville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the few times I have had a Walmart employee ask to see my receipt, I ignore them. Everything in that basket is mine - I paid for it. You ain't got no right to look at it.
Now, Sam's Club, I let 'em look. That's one of the membership requirements. But not wallyworld. I don't get violent, I don't get belligerent. I just ignore them, and walk on by.