View Full Version : Gun show dealer = asshole (surprise!)
SnikPlosskin
04-22-2012, 7:03pm
So I took my son to the gun show. He's 11. At one table, he asked me if he could pick up a small semi-auto handgun (a 22) and I said yes. The dealer comes over and says "If the ATF was here, both you and I would be in trouble. Kids can't touch guns."
He was polite about it. The guns were out on the tables with zip ties in the action. I was standing right with my son. He put the gun down right away and I said, "Oh, I didn't know. He's a crack shot you know." The dealer says, "Yeah. It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun.".
After doing some research, he is full of shit. I can understand if it is his policy - but saying it's a federal law is a lie.
Won't be buying any guns from him.
NCC-1701
04-22-2012, 7:06pm
He should have just told you that he didn't want the kids hands on the guns.
under 18 cannot own a gun, but they can certainly handle and shoot one with adult supervision.
how do you think 14 year olds get to go hunting? :kick:
or compete in shooting matches?
boracayjohnny
04-22-2012, 7:33pm
I enjoy going to gun shows and seeing incredible guns in person. That being said, there are some folks with booths that rival some of the freaks who own or manage games at carnivals.
Chris Fowler
04-22-2012, 7:37pm
Some of those dealers were a little freaky if you touched their shit.
Fastguy
04-22-2012, 7:38pm
The most erroneous (and dangerous) misinformation I have ever heard has been from gun dealers.
JRD77VET
04-22-2012, 7:42pm
............
After doing some research, he is full of shit. I can understand if it is his policy - but saying it's a federal law is a lie.
Won't be buying any guns from him.
Print out the law and make sure you give it to him next time he's at that gun show.
Go up to him and in a loud voice ...
"Since you don't fully understand the federal laws regarding firearms, maybe you should read this." :D
Sorry to hear he was a complete asshole in front of Enzo :slap:
I have found about 1/2 of the gun dealers I've dealt with to be complete and utter flakes.
theanswriz42
04-22-2012, 7:51pm
I buy all my guns on the internet. No stupid people to deal with.
ConstantChange
04-22-2012, 7:52pm
Some sellers care and some sellers don't. I always ask first before touching any of the guns. After asking, I've never been told no.
Jeff '79
04-22-2012, 7:55pm
Some sellers care and some sellers don't. I always ask first before touching any of the guns. After asking, I've never been told no.
Me too....
ConstantChange
04-22-2012, 7:56pm
I have found about 1/2 of the gun dealers I've dealt with to be complete and utter flakes.
At the gun shows I attend, several of the tables are not dealers but guys trying to sell/trade their personal collections. These guys are either very knowledgeable or don't know their head from their ass.
At the gun shows I attend, several of the tables are not dealers but guys trying to sell/trade their personal collections. These guys are either very knowledgeable or don't know their head from their ass.
Even the retail guys and one of the gunbroker.com guys has been a PITA.
It seems like there's no middle ground.
Hopefully the rest of the gun show was good and you and your son had a great time .
OddBall
04-22-2012, 8:41pm
Dealer handed you a load of crap.
But it's his merchandise, if he doesn't want the boy touching the touching the gun then respect his wishes. He has his reasons.
Unless it's obvious that handling the guns is allowed, I always ask to for permission.
Burro (He/Haw)
04-22-2012, 8:47pm
Sorry to hear he was a complete asshole in front of Enzo
But he wasn't a complete asshole. Apparently "He was polite about it" At least that's what I read.
JRD77VET
04-22-2012, 8:49pm
But he wasn't a complete asshole. Apparently "He was polite about it" At least that's what I read.
If he'd lied, he's a complete asshole in my opinion.
Burro (He/Haw)
04-22-2012, 9:00pm
Yeah. It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun.".
I know nothing about guns. Not a damn thing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. HOWEVER, even a complete firearm know-nothing like me knows there is no WAY that is correct.
Kids hunt don't they?
JRD77VET
04-22-2012, 9:04pm
I know nothing about guns. Not a damn thing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. HOWEVER, even a complete firearm know-nothing like me knows there is no WAY that is correct.
Kids hunt don't they?
Yes, kids hunt and also complete in various shooting competitions. There are rules to be followed but minors can handle and shoot firearms legally.
SnikPlosskin
04-22-2012, 9:50pm
Hopefully the rest of the gun show was good and you and your son had a great time .
Yes, we enjoyed it. It was no big deal.
Dealer handed you a load of crap.
But it's his merchandise, if he doesn't want the boy touching the touching the gun then respect his wishes. He has his reasons.
Unless it's obvious that handling the guns is allowed, I always ask to for permission.
If the guns are out on a table, seems like you can touch them. It's a gun show. Not a sissy, nanny boo hoo ask fest.
But he wasn't a complete asshole. Apparently "He was polite about it" At least that's what I read.
Not complete. More passive aggressive.
If he'd lied, he's a complete asshole in my opinion.
:iagree:
Yes, kids hunt and also complete in various shooting competitions. There are rules to be followed but minors can handle and shoot firearms legally.
In fact, the ATF allows minors to work in gun shops and sell guns.
Some sellers care and some sellers don't. I always ask first before touching any of the guns. After asking, I've never been told no.
:seasix:
Most shows I go to many dealers have signs that say ASK FIRST. Never been refused.
FWIW in the people’s republic of NY a strict reading of the Sullivan law (CCWP law) says you cannot touch a pistol before it’s on your permit. No loaning anyone your pistol, no shooting your neighbors on the range no letting your kids shoot it. No kids under 21 will get a CCWP in NYS so effectively there is no way legal to for a kid to touch pistol in this state.
Now in real life we do go to a gun store and handle handguns or shoot others on the range or teach our kids, but it’s technically illegal.
In NY you cannot own/possess a handgun (even in your own home) without going through all the bullshit required by our NY city masters. This law has been in effect since 1911, mostly due to NY city and it has gotten worse over the years.
mrvette
04-23-2012, 7:50am
Some 30 years ago, went with a gun collector buddy to see the Baltimore show, and at that show, I saw a genuine GATLING GUN, brass, crank handle, steel barrels, on the tripod, cool as hell, guy wanted 75 grand for it.....
I gotta tell a bit about Mike's collection, has the market cornered on pristine Colt Navy revolvers from CW era.....must be every possible variation literally dozens of them.....
in his back yard there are several CW era cannons, as in HEAVY iron cast tubes....no carriages, set on the trunnions upon wooden supports.....
the crown of his collection is.....a Genuine with provenance papers Bronze Napoleonic cannon, had been converted for use as a mortar.....but it has all the markings, it was liberated from France after one of the wars, I forget which.....:hurray::seasix:
Torqaholic
04-23-2012, 7:59am
It's a good idea to ask before touching anything you don't own. If someone doesn't have enough respect to ask before touching my things I think it's safe to assume they also won't respect the things. I always ask before handling guns. Just as I aways ask to sit on motorcycles, or inside of cars I am looking at which are on show.
As for laws, there are a lot of idiots out there. I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them. They became idiots due to their closed mindedness. There's no way to win a debate.
mrvette
04-23-2012, 8:06am
It's a good idea to ask before touching anything you don't own. If someone doesn't have enough respect to ask before touching my things I think it's safe to assume they also won't respect the things. I always ask before handling guns. Just as I aways ask to sit on motorcycles, or inside of cars I am looking at which are on show.
As for laws, there are a lot of idiots out there. I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them. They became idiots due to their closed mindedness. There's no way to win a debate. CASE CLOSED!!!!
Fixed it 4 U......:kick:
Torqaholic
04-23-2012, 8:09am
Fixed it 4 U......:kick:
:rofl: You can edit my posts anytime.
Bucwheat
04-23-2012, 9:01am
Hell the 4-H sponsers a shooting match for kids. :slap:
SnikPlosskin
04-23-2012, 10:25am
It's a good idea to ask before touching anything you don't own. If someone doesn't have enough respect to ask before touching my things I think it's safe to assume they also won't respect the things. I always ask before handling guns. Just as I aways ask to sit on motorcycles, or inside of cars I am looking at which are on show.
As for laws, there are a lot of idiots out there. I wouldn't bother trying to argue with them. They became idiots due to their closed mindedness. There's no way to win a debate.
Unless guy is SELLING them at a gun show. Also, no sign to that effect. I guess I should have read his mind.
Here's a news flash: if you are a dealer and go to gun shows, people want to handle the weapons. If you don't like people handling them, keep them behind the counter or in a case. Or post a sign.
He is probably one of those dealers who thinks "these are MY guns". Wrong! You might own them but your entire purpose is to sell them.
In the process, people might touch your precious totums.
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 10:35am
Unless guy is SELLING them at a gun show. Also, no sign to that effect. I guess I should have read his mind.
Here's a news flash: if you are a dealer and go to gun shows, people want to handle the weapons. If you don't like people handling them, keep them behind the counter or in a case. Or post a sign.
He is probably one of those dealers who thinks "these are MY guns". Wrong! You might own them but your entire purpose is to sell them.
In the process, people might touch your precious totums.
:yesnod:
Plenty of people with signs. Usually they had a smaller collection and they were perfectly happy to let you handle them if you asked.
The larger dealers had no signs, but they usually had some sort of alarm on them.
Mike Mercury
04-23-2012, 10:53am
Here's a news flash: if you are a dealer and go to gun shows, people want to handle the weapons.
I hear ya; but
these private sellers do not bring items for people to touch/feel because "gee, I've always dreamed of having one of these..." They are there to sell what they brought.
It's not a mfgrs showcase; you'd only handle items that you would purchase right then/there - if a deal can be worked out. The simple "curious" need not touch nothing at a private sales event like this.
Brett K
04-23-2012, 10:54am
I wouldn't consider picking up a gun that wasn't mine. Every gun shop I have been to hands you the gun after verifying and demonstrating to you that the gun is unloaded. The guy has no idea of your son's familiarity with guns. Maybe he overreacted a bit, but it seems like you are too.
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 11:28am
I wouldn't consider picking up a gun that wasn't mine. Every gun shop I have been to hands you the gun after verifying and demonstrating to you that the gun is unloaded. The guy has no idea of your son's familiarity with guns. Maybe he overreacted a bit, but it seems like you are too.
I think had the dealer not said this:
"Yeah. It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun."
the story would be way different.
"Don't touch the items without asking." - dealer
"It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun." - idiot dealer
Brett K
04-23-2012, 11:39am
I think had the dealer not said this:
"Yeah. It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun."
the story would be way different.
"Don't touch the items without asking." - dealer
"It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun." - idiot dealer
Fair enough. I just get the impression that the OP was in some way insulted. I know a lot of people who just can't make a simple point without exaggerating, especially to kids. You just have to know how to take them.
Mike Mercury
04-23-2012, 11:40am
I think had the dealer not said this:
"Yeah. It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun."
the story would be way different.
"Don't touch the items without asking." - dealer
"It's a federal law - nobody under 18 can even touch a gun." - idiot dealer
point made. :cool:
Ryan Bell
04-23-2012, 12:01pm
No bullets in guns at gun show? SHOULDN'T MATTER. Serious.
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 12:19pm
The dealers that I found most annoying were the ones with guns sitting out that weren't for sale.
Some of the dealers sold modifications, triggers, sights, barrels, etc. and had guns to show examples. That made sense.
But the ones just selling handguns and rifles that had a case, front and center that said, "DO NOT TOUCH - PERSONAL HANDGUNS" was just annoying.
Why the hell do you need to put that out there?
Dr. Jacoby
04-23-2012, 12:58pm
ah yes, gun shows. How many times you smell massive body odor vs. how many times you hear someone say something outragously wrong about a gun? great contest.
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 1:47pm
ah yes, gun shows. How many times you smell massive body odor vs. how many times you hear someone say something outragously wrong about a gun? great contest.
My favorite was looking at all the signs showing "clips" for sale. :willy: :rofl:
Mike Mercury
04-23-2012, 1:59pm
ah yes, gun shows. How many times you smell massive body odor vs. how many times you hear someone say something outragously wrong about a gun? great contest.
ah yes, ham radio shows. How many times you smell massive body odor vs. how many times you hear someone say something outragous about RF?
change a few words... it's all too familiar.
SnikPlosskin
04-23-2012, 4:24pm
Fair enough. I just get the impression that the OP was in some way insulted. I know a lot of people who just can't make a simple point without exaggerating, especially to kids. You just have to know how to take them.
No insult. Just thought it was weird that he lied instead of just saying "hey, I'm not comfortable with (you, your kid, whatever) handling the guns".
Asshole might be a strong word. It was a polite exchange. Just thought it was weird.
And he's a full time dealer.
SnikPlosskin
04-23-2012, 4:26pm
ah yes, gun shows. How many times you smell massive body odor vs. how many times you hear someone say something outragously wrong about a gun? great contest.
:lol:
I go once in a while to look for deals or to get a sense of what is on the market. But there were some mysterious smells.
Vette Jockey
04-23-2012, 5:08pm
Some sellers care and some sellers don't. I always ask first before touching any of the guns. After asking, I've never been told no.
:iagree: Where I grew up you did not touch anything that did not belong to you without asking. It was polite and kept you out of trouble.
As far as bullets are concerned, I used to make those out of lead and linotype for my .45 A.C.P. and .44 Mag. Lead is toxic, but they were not dangerous until you added a case, primer, and powder to them. :dance:
Fastguy
04-23-2012, 9:07pm
Probably just a non-confrontational method to keep kids from handling his guns, blame the government.
Some 30 years ago, went with a gun collector buddy to see the Baltimore show,
Cool! Gene's story will no doubt have something to do with touching a gun without the owner's permission at a gun show.
I saw a genuine GATLING GUN, brass, crank handle, steel barrels, on the tripod, cool as hell, guy wanted 75 grand for it.....
Even cooler! I'll bet he's gonna tell us how he turned the crank not knowing it was loaded and then tie this all in to Thrakk's post!
I gotta tell a bit about Mike's collection, has the market cornered on pristine Colt Navy revolvers from CW era.....must be every possible variation literally dozens of them.....
Oh shit. We're going off on a tangent....
in his back yard there are several CW era cannons, as in HEAVY iron cast tubes....no carriages, set on the trunnions upon wooden supports.....
Goddamn it Gene!
the crown of his collection is.....a Genuine with provenance papers Bronze Napoleonic cannon, had been converted for use as a mortar.....but it has all the markings, it was liberated from France after one of the wars, I forget which.....:hurray::seasix:
:banghead:
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 9:45pm
Cool! Gene's story will no doubt have something to do with touching a gun without the owner's permission at a gun show.
Even cooler! I'll bet he's gonna tell us how he turned the crank not knowing it was loaded and then tie this all in to Thrakk's post!
Oh shit. We're going off on a tangent....
Goddamn it Gene!
:banghead:
:rofl: :rofl:
Torqaholic
04-23-2012, 10:05pm
So you're going to explain it to the kid as "Just feel free to pick up guns when you see them laying around"? I can't picture you doing that.
Great opportunity to educate him on property rights. I've seen kids who can't keep their hands off of other peoples things. They've got all the manners of a monkey, and you'd think so too if you caught them hanging off the side view mirror of your Corvette... You just want to wring their scrawny necks :rofl:
kingpin
04-23-2012, 10:06pm
So you're going to explain it to the kid as "Just feel free to pick up guns when you see them laying around"? I can't picture you doing that.
Great opportunity to educate him on property rights. I've seen kids who can't keep their hands off of other peoples things. They've got all the manners of a monkey, and you'd think so too if you caught them hanging off the side view mirror of your Corvette... You just want to wring their scrawny necks :rofl:
I can't believe I agree with you. :banghead:
Chris Fowler
04-23-2012, 10:12pm
So you're going to explain it to the kid as "Just feel free to pick up guns when you see them laying around"? I can't picture you doing that.
Great opportunity to educate him on property rights. I've seen kids who can't keep their hands off of other peoples things. They've got all the manners of a monkey, and you'd think so too if you caught them hanging off the side view mirror of your Corvette... You just want to wring their scrawny necks :rofl:
At one table, he asked me if he could pick up a small semi-auto handgun (a 22) and I said yes.
seems to me the kid asked his parent...
_Nomad_
04-23-2012, 10:26pm
seems to me the kid asked his parent...
So it's Thrak's fault! :yesnod:
SnikPlosskin
04-24-2012, 8:16am
seems to me the kid asked his parent...
Indeed he did.
So it's Thrak's fault! :yesnod:
Indeed it is.
One thing that bugs me is when people broad brush kids as out of control brats. My son is polite and considerate. He is also skilled at dealing with adults (from dealing with the press and CEO types).
He is also a crack shot and is well trained in gun safety.
And I know a lot of other kids like him. If we are going to stereotype, let's do it to Canadians.
Mike Mercury
04-24-2012, 8:38am
So you're going to explain it to the kid as "Just feel free to pick up guns when you see them laying around"? I can't picture you doing that.
Great opportunity to educate him on property rights. I've seen kids who can't keep their hands off of other peoples things.
http://www.tim-yvonne.com/gif/bell1.gif
Private-sale shows are not petting zoos... for the kids to touch things they get the desire to.
note to Dads; go over this - out in the parking lot - before you take your kids inside.
:thumbs:
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