Kirk Freeman
Grandmaster
FYI, no telephone number is now required from the buyer.
A couple of weeks ago a former client advised that Gander Mountain in Lafayette demanded a phone number from prospective buyers before they could leave with a firearm. Puzzled, I asked what authority Gander Mountain cited and he reported "ATF rules".
Yesterday I decided to check for myself. At lunch went to purchase a pistol and was told that I MUST have a telephone number. I refused and asked for the reason. "ATF policy". I asked to see it and got blank looks.
I was then told "store policy". I asked for the store policy in writing and was told flat out that it was not in writing. I asked for the store manager, but received his card.
Today I called and spoke to the store manager of the Lafayette store. He related more "ATF policy". I asked for the citation and, to his credit, he responded that he would call ATFE.
He called me back in 15 minutes and told me that it was not ATF policy and I could come in and pick up the revolver. I went in over lunch and, while I had to fill out another 4473, picked up my new handgun. Gander Mountain did offer to provide free ammunition (I declined) for the inconvenience. Both the store manager and department head were apologetic and advised that re-training would be offered to its employees. I asked that other stores be advised on this non-"requirement".
Oh, yeah, the pistol is a new Smith M48. Tony Miele of Smith told me at the St. Louis annual meeting that the new M48s were the new hotness over the old and busted tooling that was used in the past.
We shall see this weekend.
A couple of weeks ago a former client advised that Gander Mountain in Lafayette demanded a phone number from prospective buyers before they could leave with a firearm. Puzzled, I asked what authority Gander Mountain cited and he reported "ATF rules".
Yesterday I decided to check for myself. At lunch went to purchase a pistol and was told that I MUST have a telephone number. I refused and asked for the reason. "ATF policy". I asked to see it and got blank looks.
I was then told "store policy". I asked for the store policy in writing and was told flat out that it was not in writing. I asked for the store manager, but received his card.
Today I called and spoke to the store manager of the Lafayette store. He related more "ATF policy". I asked for the citation and, to his credit, he responded that he would call ATFE.
He called me back in 15 minutes and told me that it was not ATF policy and I could come in and pick up the revolver. I went in over lunch and, while I had to fill out another 4473, picked up my new handgun. Gander Mountain did offer to provide free ammunition (I declined) for the inconvenience. Both the store manager and department head were apologetic and advised that re-training would be offered to its employees. I asked that other stores be advised on this non-"requirement".
Oh, yeah, the pistol is a new Smith M48. Tony Miele of Smith told me at the St. Louis annual meeting that the new M48s were the new hotness over the old and busted tooling that was used in the past.
We shall see this weekend.
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