Would you refuse to sell a gun to someone you think is shady?
- Thread starter 5whiskey
- Start date
I'm not an FFL so I don't have the luxury of a NICS check. If I have the slightest inkling that a buyer has no business with my gun, I won't sell it. If I'm wrong, he can still buy a gun anywhere else. 95% of the guns I've sold in the last 20 years have gone through a FFL for that very reason. The other 5% are people I know personally and have no reservations about.
If I lose 10-20% selling to a FFL, that money bought me something priceless- peace of mind.
Funny that 1%ers got brought up. Some of the nicest guys I've ever met are 1%ers. I would have no problem selling them a firearm.
One of worst people I have ever met is clean cut suit and tie type fellow. Was very abusive physically and verbally to his wife and kids. No way I would ever sell him a firearm.
Most of my friends ride motorcycles. Some Harley's. Some sport bikes. They all have a carry permit and use it.
Would you sell my friend a gun if he pulled up on a harley all dressed in leather? What if I told you he just came back from Afghanistan and barley survived a rocket attack there? What if I told you he is member of the CMA?
Point is you can never judge a book by its cover.
One of worst people I have ever met is clean cut suit and tie type fellow. Was very abusive physically and verbally to his wife and kids. No way I would ever sell him a firearm.
Most of my friends ride motorcycles. Some Harley's. Some sport bikes. They all have a carry permit and use it.
Would you sell my friend a gun if he pulled up on a harley all dressed in leather? What if I told you he just came back from Afghanistan and barley survived a rocket attack there? What if I told you he is member of the CMA?
Point is you can never judge a book by its cover.
Not really. I've known people well into their 40's that still looked like teenagers and I myself could have probably passed for 30 when I was a teenager.
Also, we're assuming that the individual in question was going to the gun show to try to buy a gun. Afterall, you can buy lots of things at gun shows besides guns. Maybe he was looking for an old military uniform to use as a costume in a play, maybe he was looking for some sort of decorative knife or sword which are commonly sold at gun shows, or maybe he'd simply never been to a gun show before and wanted to see what it was all about. Heck, when my siblings were young they liked going to gun shows with my dad because there was usually a lady selling beanie babies at one particular table.
The point is that an awful lot of assumptions are being made based on very little in the way of facts. The only facts that we have is that an individual who appeared young to the OP was seen going into a gun show wearing clothing that the OP felt looked suspicious. Maybe the person in question was a bad egg, or maybe it was laundry day and the "suspicious" outfit happened to be the only clean clothes he had available, we don't know.
Brotherbadger
New member
Nailed it. If i was getting a bad feeling from someone, i doubt i would sell it.
Absolutely, I would not sell a gun to someone who looked hinkey!!! Even if I was a licensed FFL in the business of selling guns, I would turn away someone I thought was a shill, a thug or simply looked deranged to me. If you were in the business of selling pressure cookers and some 18 year old hinkey looking youth came in to buy one, would you sell it to him?
I don't agree with this. I judge everyone by how they look. And, then I continue to judge them by how they act. We all do!
I don't agree with this. I judge everyone by how they look. And, then I continue to judge them by how they act. We all do!
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1%er does not mean everyone who rides motorcycles, nor does it include every motorcycle club. The blue knights, watchmen, CMA, and tons of others are motorcycle clubs, but they're not 1%ers. 1%ers are members of motorcycle clubs that embrace a criminal sub-culture. I hear all the time that "I know such and such" and he's a nice guy. "Such and such" probably isn't a 1%er, and if he is he may be a nice guy but when he puts his vest on and is told to acquire a firearm for a senior member (convicted felon) of the group, then he has to do what he's told.
Intuition is not always wrong nor is it always right. But. if my intuition tells me someone shouldn't buy my gun, I don't sell it. As a matter of fact, (I'm not an FFL) I have never sold a gun to anyone I don't know well.
So my opinion is that if you doubt the prospective buyer, don't sell. Send him to a legitimate dealer.
So my opinion is that if you doubt the prospective buyer, don't sell. Send him to a legitimate dealer.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Then your FFLs are different than ours. I've seen a dealer kick someone out of their store for having droopy drawers, wearing an Obama t shirt, smelling bad, and not being able to speak English. All justified in my eyes."
Several years ago I was working (solo!) a gunshop in Fairfax, Virginia, part time.
I kicked one ass out of the shop because of the T shirt he was wearing:
"Feeling suicidal?" (picture of hangman's noose)
"Take someone with you!" (picture of handgun)
Told him in no uncertain terms to get the hell out of my shop and never come back.
He went after spouting off a few choice comments.
Was I denying him his Constitutional rights?
What do I look like, the US Government passing a law denying guns to morons wearing shirts encouraging murder suicide?
Several years ago I was working (solo!) a gunshop in Fairfax, Virginia, part time.
I kicked one ass out of the shop because of the T shirt he was wearing:
"Feeling suicidal?" (picture of hangman's noose)
"Take someone with you!" (picture of handgun)
Told him in no uncertain terms to get the hell out of my shop and never come back.
He went after spouting off a few choice comments.
Was I denying him his Constitutional rights?
What do I look like, the US Government passing a law denying guns to morons wearing shirts encouraging murder suicide?
Spats McGee
Administrator
I haven't read the whole thread, but the original question was:
My answer: Yes, I would. In a heartbeat. Up until payment and gun are exchanged, it's my gun. If anything about the buyer sends up red flags for me, I'm out and he can go looking for a gun somewhere else.
I am well aware of the difference between one percent clubs and 99 percent clubs. Like I said I know many people that are in one percent clubs. Most of them are in the outlaws. Not all the chapters of the outlaws or hells angels are like they are portrayed in the news and various tv shows. Just because they are labeled a one percent club does not mean they are out killing people!
I understand that they may not be getting into knife fights on a daily basis, are professional "hit men," or are involved in some of the things that the stereotype says they are involved in. I know first hand what they are, what they do, how the stereotypes are false, and how they are true. The point is, the club comes first and a large percentage of 1% club presidents and senior members are not allowed to legally purchase (or own) a firearm. I could not in good conscience sell a firearm to any member.
Justice06RR
New member
I don't know if you verified the "kid's" age or not. Some people just look young but in reality they are over 21.
A simple ID check can verify this. If he is indeed underage, then they should not sell to him (other than accesories).
A simple ID check can verify this. If he is indeed underage, then they should not sell to him (other than accesories).
When I received my FFL in 2006, the BATFE sent me 3 books listing all state & federal laws regarding fireams. There is one section that addresses the OP topic. That section tells the FFL holder that 'gut feeling & appearance' is important and even has a graphic to that effect.
That would be an interesting graphic to see. Was it clothes? Tattoos, piercings , turban with long beard? Diff ineptly profiling. I go mostly by what comes out of there mouth and body language. In not a ffl, but have bought & sold at least 30 firearms. I've been very lucky and only had one instance where I wouldn't even meet the guy by what he was saying.
Maybe I'm the shady one?
DOD didn't seem to think so though
Maybe I'm the shady one?
DOD didn't seem to think so though
MikeNice81
New member
I've been to a range with the following posted on the door.
So, there are FFLs that take appearance very seriously. Unfortunately with the heat heaped on the dealers that complied with the ATF in Fast and Furious, it is to be expected.
So, there are FFLs that take appearance very seriously. Unfortunately with the heat heaped on the dealers that complied with the ATF in Fast and Furious, it is to be expected.
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