Gun shop refuses to sell me ammo???
Posted by NeoArbeitpartei@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 57 comments
For context: Alaska.
Hi. So I bought a gun from a retail gun store few days ago with no issues, I filled out the form, my background cleared in 10 minutes, they sold me the gun.
Fast forward few days later, I went to same place to get ammo. I was about to check out when the manager of the store halted the transaction after noticing me, told me that they were unable to sell me any ammo or guns anymore until they could ‘figure it out’ claiming there was ‘irregularities in the ATF form’. I asked her what it is and she wouldn’t tell me, saying ‘if I stick around she might be able to figure something out’.
Well I gave them my number to call me when they were done figuring it out and went to another store to buy ammo no problem.
Thing is, I realized I didn’t get the NTN for the transaction or 4473 copy. I don’t know what to do at this point. Go back and demand to know what’s going on? Call ATF? I mean what…?
Cdwollan@reddit
Irregularities in the form is their problem. They had the duty to catch any problems before continuing the sale. That being said, I don't know any firearms retailer that still uses paper forms anymore. Also you would not have been given the NTN.
Unless you have no other options, just go elsewhere.
CleveEastWriters@reddit
Wait a month or two and a new staff will most likely be there with the old staff having rotated to Arby's.
SlicedBread1226@reddit
It's crazy how quickly one of my local stores cycles through employees, but I have two other stores that have had the same group of employees for as long as ive been going there.
CleveEastWriters@reddit
The local big box gun store near me had a cute little thing working there for the longest time because every new to guns guy who came in bought whatever she batted her eyes at. That was her whole schtick. She moved on to more profitable pastures and it seemed like the entire staff changed out within a month.
SlicedBread1226@reddit
Haha. I cant hate on her for that. Use whatever tools you got in your bag.
CleveEastWriters@reddit
No hate. She knew she was cute and used it. Had to crawl on the counters to get stuff down because she was so tiny. Used to look up at everyone with puppy dog eyes. She knew her shit though.
hamknuckle@reddit
Alaska doesn’t have ammo background checks…someone’s fucking with you.
AlphaTangoFoxtrt@reddit
Just because there's no ammo background checks, doesn't mean they can't refuse the sale for any reason.
Odd they won't tell him what the "irregularities" were, but they are well within their right to refuse the sale.
I had a guy looking to buy some 5.56 ammo and asked "These the ones that go through vests?" I refused the sale. I don't know why he felt the need to ask that, pretty sure he was looking for M855, but that plus his general vibe gave me a bad gut feeling so I said no and asked him to leave.
Stellakinetic@reddit
Sounds like she just didn’t want to sell you ammo. That’s all bullshit. You were being profiled.
ThurmanMurman907@reddit
What shop?? Sounds like typical big box store bullshit to me
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
Sportsman’s warehouse
AnnArchist@reddit
Don't you just grab ammo off the shelf there? And then walk to the check out clerk?
Like I'm confused
SlappyBag420@reddit
Sportsmans Warehouse Anchorage Alaska recently started keeping ammo behind the gun displays and you have to ask an employee to get it, claimed too much theft was the reason for the change when i asked.
Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit
My eyes are too shit to put up with any place that does that.
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
Yeah… except that I tried to buy a bulk 1k round big box so I went over the counter to ask if they had any… shoulda just grabbed the 50 round packages. I think I’m gonna confront them tomorrow on what exactly the issue is and if they still dodge my questions I’m just gonna call ATF.
AnnArchist@reddit
I don't recommend confrontation. I recommend just grabbing it off the shelf without assistance and getting rung up.
Otherwise, just order it online. Any confrontation isn't going to be a dramatic moment where they realize they were wrong. They will double down and potentially trespass you.
That said, wear a hoodie, a ball cap and just go buy it. They have their ammo in the aisles. Load a cart. Pay. Leave.
Confrontation just makes you look(and sound) kinda nuts.
SlappyBag420@reddit
the ammo is no longer kept in the aisles, it is behind the counter with the emoployees
Exact-Event-5772@reddit
BINGO. According to Reddit, that's totally normal for them.
Heckleshmeckle@reddit
Yeah I wanna know where too I’ve been pretty much everyplace that sells guns from fairbanks to anchorage
Highlander_16@reddit
"Irregularities in the form" but they wouldn't show you and for some reason couldn't explain it easily?
The paperwork is extremely straightforward. It isn't hard to spot a correction and fix it. Sounds like they royally fucked something up and are trying to hide it, but I'm not sure what it would be.
As much as I despise their existence in general, this is one part of the ATF's job that does make sense. I'd get in touch with them.
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
That’s what chatgpt told me too… alright I might have to call them this week
Waflstmpr@reddit
Dont ask chatgpt for advice when it comes to firearms or legal advice, thats a recipe for disaster.
Actually, dont ask chatgpt for advice, period.
HurricaneSpencer@reddit
I’ve gotten some decent recipes from chatGPT. It’s was nice that it didn’t have the whole “it was autumn of 9th grade, I has just been fingered for the first time, the smell of Drakkar Noir was rich in the air, I was hungry so my grandmother made me queso. There was mischief in her eyes…” and four pages of prose before I can find the ingredient list. But other than that, yes, you are correct.
Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit
I'd be more interested if the creator had a poem about the first time they were fingered, all I see is LLM slop.
AlphaSlayer21@reddit
Yeah! Ask a bunch of strangers on Reddit!!!
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
we are legitimately more reliable than chatgpt.
Visible_Nail4859@reddit
Although I’d sometimes say the same for reddit comments, this ain’t one of those times. OP, follow this person’s advice, ESPECIALLY regarding firearm/legal questions.
roostersnuffed@reddit
Sometimes even mentioning contacting the ATF is enough to get them to cut the shit and level with you.
Fragrant-Scar1180@reddit
If I were you I would get a box of ammo elsewhere and then bring it in to shoot. If you're a first time gun buyer they may not want to both sell you the firearm and the ammunition just out of ..... Concern
WhocaresToo@reddit
No because it was a few days later. If there's an issue they KNOW what it is. I mean if his background check and whatnot was good enough to buy the gun then it's definitely good enough to buy ammo unless something between the sale of the gun and a few days later when trying to buy ammo happened and that made them reluctant but that doesn't sound very likely.
Fragrant-Scar1180@reddit
They're concerned he's going to blow his brains out with the gun he just bought from them and since they haven't seen him shoot it there before they don't want to also sell him the ammo and provide him a place to die. Indoor ranges are weird like that
BenchmadeFan420@reddit
It's a sportsman's warehouse, not a gun range.
DotDash13@reddit
Did OP say it was also a range anywhere? If someone is getting a suicide kit, wouldn't they do it all at once?
It more sounds like the store fucked up the paperwork somehow. Unless OP is leaving something out, is prohibited, and the store was waiting for the cops to show up or something? That might fit with the delay tactic of "stick around while we figure it out."
WhocaresToo@reddit
I hope that's sarcasm lol. I bought all four of my guns from my local gun store which is also an indoor range. I had never been there until 5 years ago walked in bought a gun did my 10-day background check picked it up when I got my phone call bought 200 rounds of ammo and proceeded to shoot it all afternoon and I've been going there since for years lol
Fragrant-Scar1180@reddit
Ymmv
WhocaresToo@reddit
Not really. I've never heard of it gun store selling someone the actual gun but not the ammunition ever LOL unless there's some issue for the safety of the person or people in the store something weird differently than this is obviously going on but it's not because they're fearing for the purchaser's life. Not when you can go into any store pretty much and buy ammo. That just seems ridiculous
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
I have bought ammo from another store. I just don’t get why they won’t sell me the ammo when Alaska law says you only need ID over 21 for ammo. And wtf is the ‘irregularities’ about?
AKblazer45@reddit
Fairbanks or Anchorage?
ilikerelish@reddit
I would go back and ask to speak to the GM. If this person that stopped your sale is the GM, ask for the number of the regional manager (assuming a chain), if not a chain store ask for the owner's contact info. Explain it to them, and ask them what precisely the deal is with the sale, or their manager. Your pud is being yanked, and one good yank deserves another in the form of trying to take that woman's job.
WalkerTR-17@reddit
Are you a prohibited person? Which I whole heartedly disagree with those laws but that would be a likely issue here
I_Love_Lamp222@reddit
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/ding-dong-ditch-shooting-suspect-waited-children-return-charges-be-upgraded
lovemacheen918@reddit
Wtf is the point of you linking that?
The_Firing_Line@reddit
There's absolutely no reason they should withhold anything from you. If you can at least get an NTN from them I should be able to see anything weird that comes up.
Neutral_Chaoss@reddit
I think they are just idiots....are you able to go else where for ammo? I wouldn't go back there.
Significant_View_250@reddit
\^\^\^ this
wasteguy7@reddit
Just shop elsewhere for your ammo. It’s on the store to have sent in everything correct in the first place.
GreatDevelopment225@reddit
Definitely sounds like The world have preferred you to stay there to talk to the police, who they failed to mention, were on their way. Did we maybe take something that wasn't ours? Did you receive change back on the initial purchase that could have been incorrect? Or perhaps a credit card was used and has since been flagged for some reason? Either way, I don't think I believe it was related to the paperwork. Feeling more like you being very lucky to have gotten out when you did, avoiding the embarrassment of being arrested from the store. This way they'll pick you up at home, assuming that you were a bad little boy with his hand in the cookie jar.
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
Are you high?
DustOff95@reddit
what store is this?
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
Sportsman’s warehouse
MrAnachronist@reddit
OP: what does this sentence mean?
“…halted the transaction after noticing me”
Gun shops have broad authority to refuse to make transactions for any number of reasons, particularly related to suspicion of crime or violence.
Is there anything about yourself that you are leaving out of your post that would make a gun shop not want to sell to you?
NeoArbeitpartei@reddit (OP)
What? No she’s the one who sold me the gun few days ago. That’s why she noticed me
stumpinandthumpin@reddit
You can always use the pseudo-nuclear option.
Send them an email. Employee soandso denied your purchase of ammo and any additional firearms due to ‘irregularities in the ATF form’. You are now concerned about the integrity of the transfer. Please let me know how we can correct this potentially invalid 4473. Let them know if they don't reply, you may reach out to the field office to attempt to absolve yourself of any liability from their error.
Obviously you don't because that would be crazy, but stress makes idiots smarter.
A_Queer_Owl@reddit
in a sane world reaching out to the regulating agency would be the smart thing because it shows you intended to commit no crime and are intent on fixing this situation and abiding by the law. but no, our law enforcement apparatus is so focused on proving its value any attempt to reach out will absolutely result in you getting fucked over and being part of a press release about getting illegal weapons off the streets.
angryrotations@reddit
See it's always in the comments. Total. Fucken. Scorched 🌎
lique_madique@reddit
Guns stores typically don’t give you your NTN and a copy of your 4473 is not standard practice
Murky-Sector@reddit
You are clearly not being respected here.
Like all commercial establishments, some are staffed better than others. Its no different than being served bad food at a restaurant. I dont get caught in the trap of trying to debug them. It almost never pays off. I would just go elsewhere in the future.