Would you refuse to sell a gun to someone you think is shady?

Wow, I wonder how many folks in this thread would not sell a firearm to me.:rolleyes:

I have long hair, facial hair(often a 2-3 days shadow) Since I work in industry, my hands and fingernails are often dirty (it's pretty hard to always scruff ink and grease stains off.) For the same reason, if I am returning or going to work, I am wearing stained jeans and a dirt jacket. I also wear leather and black T-shirts.

Basing you judgments on appearances is simply ignorant.
You may laugh at me because I am different, I laugh at you because you are all the same.:p
 
I have long hair, facial hair(often a 2-3 days shadow) Since I work in industry, my hands and fingernails are often dirty (it's pretty hard to always scruff ink and grease stains off.) For the same reason, if I am returning or going to work, I am wearing stained jeans and a dirt jacket. I also wear leather and black T-shirts.

Basing you judgments on appearances is simply ignorant.
You may laugh at me because I am different, I laugh at you because you are all the same.
Click to expand...

Joe, I'm not trying to be judgmental. I didn't mean this discussion to turn toward guys who are into punk rock, have tats (not gang tats), who have long hair, facial hair, piercings, wear biker clothes (excluding someone wearing a 1% three piece patch), or who work in the field and stay dirty most of the time (I grew up on a tobacco farm, I'm certainly no stranger to that). I didn't mean for this discussion to turn that direction, and I generally don't condone judging someone based off of their dress or looks. With my first post, describing the Adam Lanza look-alike, I guess this is a case of a picture is worth a thousand words.
 
Jo6pak said:
Wow, I wonder how many folks in this thread would not sell a firearm to me.

I have long hair, facial hair(often a 2-3 days shadow) Since I work in industry, my hands and fingernails are often dirty (it's pretty hard to always scruff ink and grease stains off.) For the same reason, if I am returning or going to work, I am wearing stained jeans and a dirt jacket. I also wear leather and black T-shirts.

Basing you judgments on appearances is simply ignorant.
You may laugh at me because I am different, I laugh at you because you are all the same
Click to expand...

Being dirty from a day in the field or at work is entirely different from being filthy from living on the streets for a couple weeks. To say they are the same is an insult to working people.
 
looking kinda funny isn't a disqualifier if you have an in-state driver's license and ccw permit. that along with references since all of my FTF with people I never met were from gun forums....
 
OMG! I've seen people at gun ranges and gun shows many times that fit that description. It probably fits half of you that frequent this board:) If you feel that uncomfortable about it don't sell to him. He can go some where else and purchase a burner. Legally of course. I chuckled when I read the initial post. Add 46 years to his age and you have my long time hunting buddy and firearms mentor:)
 
What I know about anyone in the public arena is based on what they show me. I won't refuse to sell someone a gun based solely on their appearance but it will be considered. By the way I have had long hair, rough beard, and a basic sense of fashion most of my life, still if I get a strange vibe from someone I will not sell anything, work with or for, or associate with that person. But that's just me.
 
In the example given, I would have to talk to this person at least a little. If he has his mental facilities, is not on some sort of substance affecting his judgement, and he has the money, I would sell, but I would ask for an ID and I would ask specifically if he is legally allowed to own a firearm and did not have any kind of felony record. This is beyond what I would normally do with a FTF transaction and only done because I am uncomfortable.

If I am really uncomfortable but want to sell anyway, I would just go to a FFL dealer and pay to transfer fee personally.
 
colbad said:
I am curious how those who are advocating the sale based upon "rights" would feel if the "shady" individual came into your store of FTF wearing with pride his full "gang" colors or outlaw biker cut telling the world of his affiliation? Even if he does pass the NICS, you going to sell it to him.





Personally, I am with those who recognize his potential right to bear arms but my right to sell to who I want....FFL or not. Thoughts?
Click to expand...






would you support a law that restricted gun rights based on dress, interest, or hobbies? What other measures should we ask Uncle Sam to put into law to deny gun sales?



That really old man, could have Alzheimer, better not sell to him. I don't think people with glasses should be allowed to own a gun since their eye sight is bad. I think you should meet a minimum income requirement also. A poor person might be tempted to use his gun to rob



Again, I respect everyone's right to do business with who ever you want to. I don't want to force business to do anything, but I think if you decide to become an FFL you need to respect the rights of consumers.



If you think a FFL should refuse based on looks, then you think all FFLs should. That means no gun for this person. No different than making it a law, the results are the same. I am against more gun control laws. Period.
 
This conversation isn't about legislating anything other than the potentially FORCING someone to sell personal property to another individual that the seller does not want to do business with. To go from "would you say no to a buy request" to "would you support a law dictating who can or can't do business with" is so far apart that they don't even belong in the same thread.

When did it become a constitutional right to be able to buy anything from any person whether he wants to sell it to you or not?
 
I try not to judge people based solely on their appearance. Some of the nicest people I've ever known looked a bit "sketchy" when I first met them and some of the most pitiful excuses for human beings I've ever had the misfortune of being acquainted with seemed quite respectable at first glance. That being said, in a private sale it would be a non-issue for me as it is my personal policy to only sell a gun on consignment through an FFL or to someone I know very, very well such as a family member or close friend. I simply do not trust my own judgment of character enough to pick the good and bad among strangers.

Now, if I were an FFL, I might refuse an otherwise legal sale, but not based on appearance alone unless said appearance was a blatant reference to something more sinister such as gang tattoos or clothing. A scruffy beard and black duster wouldn't stop me, as an FFL from selling a gun to someone who passed a NICS check, but racial slurs, signs of substance abuse, cognitive impairment, unsafe gun handling, or unusual aggressive behavior would stop a sale very quickly.
 
I absolutely would and have, but not because of clothes as others have mentioned. Alot of dress looks strange to me these days. I must say I've been Very lucky with the FTF people I've dealt with, both buying & selling.
 
Walmart sells pressure cookers every day to people who look like the Boston bombing bothers.
Making a decision to sell anything to anyone based on their looks alone is just dumb.

And what about that Opie Taylor look-alike Karl Halverson Pierson?
Would he slide right by everyones finely tuned sociopath detector?

If I'm working the register and a clean-cut Eddie Haskell is buying five huge rat traps and tells me he's going to set them outside his sisters bedroom door I'm not likely to complete the sale.

I get the point of the thread - the kid gave you a copy-cat vibe.
He may be exactly that, or not.
A picture is worth absolutely zero... Refrain from judgement until you interact.
 
Unless your mother still dresses you, your appearance in public is a conscious choice.

If you choose to present an appearance that is sketchy, unusual, associated with gang or other criminal activity, or otherwise stands out from the crowd, you shouldn't be surprised when people consider that appearance when they evaluate you.

It's beyond me why a person wouldn't consider how another chooses to behave in public as part of their judgement of that person.

It really doesn't matter whether you are the nicest person on the planet. Dress like a scary person, get treated like a scary person. You don't like it? Don't act scary.

As for the OP, if I had picked up on the vibes he described, I wouldn't sell the kid a butter knife.
 
Shouldn't the big deal be that he appeared no older than 18? That should rule out him being able to purchase a handgun shouldn't it? Maybe he was actually 17 and wasn't able to buy a gun at the show period.
 
I take a slight offense to this as I imagine I would look quite similar to this kid, perhaps a few minor changes to the clothes.

Unless he is ACTING suspicions, I see no problem.
 
I do get the idea of not projecting my own fears onto someone,respecting other folks freedom of expression,etc,etc.

But there is a PC idea that we are not supposed to judge...well,all things in moderation.

That can be a cop out,an abdication of the responsibility to excersize good judgement.

If I was selling hot dogs,it would be different.

All hypothetical,I sell few guns and when I do,trusted friends or relatives get them.

I'm a beard,jeans and tee shirt,boots ,rusty pickup guy.Sometimes Carharts.

Its OK to trust the voice in my ear that says "Bad idea"
 
Last edited:
After my earlier post, I will relate something I heard from my parents.

They went to a gun store to look around and there were some kids in there with leather jackets, shaved heads, white power/aryan brotherhood patches, etc. and were rude and possibly suggestive of racist comments.

One of them failed the NICS background check and when another asked to buy it instead the gun store owner turned the lot of them away.

A very extreme example, but I fully support the move.
 
Go with my gut!!

If I think someone is "shady", there would be no way in the world I would sell to them!!

Discrimination laws, and firearm laws be damned. I want to have a good nights sleep!!
 
They went to a gun store to look around and there were some kids in there with leather jackets, shaved heads, white power/aryan brotherhood patches, etc.
Click to expand...
Now that is one class of people to whom I will deny service without the least bit of guilt. I've done so before. Not because they've made bad fashion choices, but because of the mindset those fashion choices embody.
 
I don't know if it's just me, but when I'm doing any business involving a firearm, including buying ammo, I try to look respectable.

You never get a second chance at a 1st impression.

Then again, it may be some deep seated desire to be liked......

Whiskey, I judge a book by it's cover, too. It's ok. You live to be an old man by keeping your guard up, going with your gut, and watching your own back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top