These are sad times...

[agentmel]

I'm interested in getting into rifle shooting, with the ultimate goal of accurately shooting a .308 or 30.06 out to distance. Since the .22 is a great place to start (ammo and rifles are cheap, etc.) I headed out to Wal-mart to purchase a new bolt-action .22.

I was expecting to just swipe my card and leave with my rifle. Not so much. In order to purchase said .22 the store actually had to call in a background check! I also had to fill out the full ATF [Edited] paperwork. For a .22. A .22. It was ludicrous.

So, we go through the 45 min ordeal, get all set so I go to grab the box and get ready to leave. Oh no. Apparently a manager has to walk the box with the unloaded rifle to your car.

I walked into Wal-Mart legally carrying a loaded pistol, but couldn't walk out of it with an unloaded .22 still in the box.

Really? I mean, really?

Mel

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[rocky]

Yup, been this way for years. Guess you haven't bought many guns from stores? Walmart policy has been to carry the purchased gun out for many years. Don't like it? Buy at a real gun shop. Most of em let you carry your own purchase out.

[automatic slim]

Walmart makes it a lot more difficult than necessary. You can be in and out of the average gun shop in about 15 minutes.......without the escort.

[Captain Crunch]

So what's your beef?

ALL firearms (except black powder) purchased from a licensed dealer require the buyer to fill out and sign a BATFE form 4473 and pass the NICS background check. Doesn't matter if it's a .22 or a .500 Magnum. There are no exceptions. We all have to do it; why should you be different?

The 4473 has been around since 1968, the NICS check since 1993.

If you don't like Wal-Mart's policy, then don't buy from them.

I can't buy a gun from Wal-Mart, because they won't accept my driver's license as a valid ID, because it bears my P.O. box address. So I take my business elsewhere.

[Thanis]

...ALL firearms (except black powder) purchased from a licensed dealer require the buyer to fill out and sign a BATFE form 4473 and pass the NICS background check. Doesn't matter if it's a .22 or a .500 Magnum. There are no exceptions. We all have to do it; why should you be different?
...

I did not know you needed a back ground check for a .22 LR or 30.06 bolt action rifle. In general (not sure about AR-15, etc) I though rifles did not need a back ground check.

[Pikachu711]

So what's your beef?

ALLI can't buy a gun from Wal-Mart, because they won't accept my driver's license as a valid ID, because it bears my P.O. box address. So I take my business elsewhere.

Has this always been the case if you have a P.O. box on your driver's license. What if you have a P.O. box as a precaution for the safe delivery of your mail. This doesn't make sense to me but I suppose Wally World has their odd policies. But that's their loss if you don't shop in their stores.

The reason I ask is that I've been considering getting a P.O. box myself for my mail security. There have been cases too often where BG's have broken into apartment complex mail boxes and stealing all the mail enclosed at the time. Now I'm rethinking changing the address on my driver's license. It could put me in a bad position for buying future guns.

I'll have to give this some more thought!

[celticredneck]

When I first lived at my current location, back in the mid to late 70s, all rural addresses were post office box (insert number), Name of county County, Va. Now, the same location has a real street address and the name of the Post Office as address. I am usually delayed for background checks though. I don't know why, but it could be because My county and the one the post office is located are different.

[JonInNY]

It's this way in Gander Mountain here in NY too! I can walk in with my CCW, no problems, but if I purchase a long gun, they will do the same paperwork, and walk you out and not give you the gun until you leave the premises.

I'm sure this is an insurance issue.

Does anyone know if there has ever been an incident in a store that sells firearms, where someone purchased a gun and immediately used it (in the store) to commit a crime?

[EAJ]

immediately[/B] used it (in the store) to commit a crime?

Or it could be because of the growing number of customers violently accosted in retailer parking lots. Last thing the retailer wants is a firearm stolen on their property.

I walked into Wal-Mart legally carrying a loaded pistol, but couldn't walk out of it with an unloaded .22 still in the box.

That's surprising. In the WM where I shop (in FLorida) you’re not allowed to
carry. Such shoppers are usually escorted out of the store.

[Realleycat]

That's interesting. I've never seen a Walmart posted. Which Walmart is it???

[miklcolt45]

A Walmart posted? In FL?

[Captain Crunch]

I did not know you needed a back ground check for a .22 LR or 30.06 bolt action rifle. In general (not sure about AR-15, etc) I though rifles did not need a back ground check.

Long guns (rifles & shotguns) are subject to the NICS background check, same as handguns.

Has this always been the case if you have a P.O. box on your driver's license. What if you have a P.O. box as a precaution for the safe delivery of your mail. This doesn't make sense to me but I suppose Wally World has their odd policies. But that's their loss if you don't shop in their stores.

This may just be my local Wal-Mart store's policy, I don't know if it is corporate policy.

All my local gun stores accept my DL as a valid ID, although I always show my CWP, which bears my street address (this way, I can bypass the NICS check.)

[rathos]

When I worked at Sportsman's Warehouse we always walked the guns to the counter. It was a great way to show them other items they "needed" to buy with their gun.

As far as the DL issue, if it has a PO Box the FBI doesn't accept that as a valid address for a NICS check. You would be required to show some piece of state issued ID, or city or state issued bills that are going to your street address. You could also use your CPL if it has your street address on it. Its not the company's policy its the NICS check policy.

[smotta]

Never seen a posted walmart in FL. I'm 99% that Gutmacher's book said we can ignore those anyways in FL.

[retsupt99]

Never seen a posted walmart in FL. I'm 99% that Gutmacher's book said we can ignore those anyways in FL.

Sign? What signs? I didn't see any signs?

They mean absolutely nada...