academy outdoor tries to deny my right to bear arms

When I was 20 I went to an academy outdoors to purchase an ar15. One there I asked the clerck if I could look at a Smith m&p 15. He asked for my age and I told him I was 20. He informed me that I had to be 21 to look at or purchase an ar15 per store policy. I called the manager over and informed him that because of his store policy that would deny a 20 yr old Iraq war veteran the right to bear arms, he just lost a $700 sale. I walked off when he gave me a dumbfounded look

How long ago was that?

The Jackson store?

Normally, I don't waste time with local store personnel. I complain to the corporate customer services. Not likely the policy will get changed, but HQ usually passes the comment down to the local store manager.

(PS: It's "bear", not "bare".)

This was last May at the Jackson store. This also happend at Dicks sporting goods in tupelo. I was trying to buy a savage 10 tactical. The manager corrected the clerk that time though.

The store in Jackson has tags on all the .22cal AR15 style rifles that say must be 21yrs old to purchase and the ARs too. Going to have to ask them about that next time I am in there.

It's a private company, they also have the right to follow stricter policies than the law requires. They weren't required to approve me via NICS once I'd showed them my firearms permit, but they did anyway. I had the right to walk away from the transaction if it bothered me.

I'm sorry, but your title is silly. Academy did not try to "deny your rights" under the 2nd Amendment. Only the government or an agent of the government can do that. Academy is a private business that is allowed to enforce store policy (as long as it does not violate law) to their hearts content. If there policy is that customers must be 21 to purchase any firearms, so be it. You can choose not to shop there. But to say that they were attempting to deny your rights is disingenuous. I can legally drink alcohol because I am over 21 years of age. However, Academy might have a store policy that says "No alcohol on the premises.". If I walk into Academy with a beer and they tell me to leave, they are not denying my rights. They are enforcing a store policy.

I think your response was the correct one. Make sure the management knows they lost your sale. If enough people do that, they may change their policy. Stupid policy? Yes. Their choice? Yes.

From one vet to another, thank you for your service.
Gonzo

I agree that it's a private store and they have the right to establish their policy as they deem appropriate.

But that can be a rights issue.

Think of it like this: He has a constitutional right to bear arms.

If all vendors refuse to sell him a firearm, it's a hollow right.

That is similar to privately owned restaurants and motels refusing to serve black folks in the 1950s. The shops thought they had a right to refuse service to anyone they wished.

Turned out they didn't.

NRA_guy wrote:I agree that it's a private store and they have the right to establish their policy as they deem appropriate.

But that can be a rights issue.

Think of it like this: He has a constitutional right to bear arms.

If all vendors refuse to sell him a firearm, it's a hollow right.

That is similar to privately owned restaurants and motels refusing to serve black folks in the 1950s. The shops thought they had a right to refuse service to anyone they wished.

Turned out they didn't.

Sorry, my friend, but the old racism argument is a straw argument. How many people do you know that choose when they wake up every day to be white or black? Everybody I know is born with their race. The decision to bear arms is just that...a decision. A person makes that choice every day as opposed to choosing the color of their skin. Let's say you own a gun store. Joe Schumckitello walks into your store and proceeds to pass out "Re-Elect President Obama" literature and applications to join the Brady Campaign. You tell him, in not so polite terms, he has to either stop handing out his garbage or leave. Have you just deprived him of his First Ammendment Right to free speech? Then he tells you he wants to purchase several handguns, because he plans to melt them down into a pro-gun-control sculpture (with the name of your store featured on the display) which will be prominently displayed in front of San Francisco City Hall. If you refuse to sell him the guns, have you turned his 2nd Ammendment right into a "hollow right"? After all, as long as he can legally purchase the firearm, what right do you have to decide whether to sell it to him or not?
Gonzo

Weird.....strange that it's just ARs..but I guess it is their right to choose at the same time. I would write a formal complaint to their corporate office and call their customer service. Then I would do what you did and tell everyone it's a sh*t policy. And then just don't shop their again!

But I agree the racism argument is BS! They didnt choose to be black anymore than the OP chose to be 20!

And whoever said they never really had a right to refuse service to anyone is confused...otherwise why would so many businesses have up signs reserving the right to refuse service to anyone! Go in a white supremacy store being a black person...are they gonna let you buy anything??? Doubtful! Go to a club at 17 and expect to get in even if it is just to see the band....not gonna happen! Same thing here. It's all up to the business. There is a difference between civil rights and store policy. Ageism isn't illegal! Unless you're denied a job when you're over the age of 40, because of your age(no lie look it up) and I don't think buying an AR at 20 qualifies under that law.

Also Academy won't sell you any gun if you admit the address on your driver's license is not your current one.

tdp won't sell you one either if the adress is wrong. i believe it's illegal

stephen p wrote:tdp won't sell you one either if the adress is wrong. i believe it's illegal

My thoughts exactly. What person in their right mind would? Even if it wasn't store policy it's still something that at least SOUNDS illegal.

I'm gonna start here. It's dumb that a person who can risk their life or this country be denied to purchase or look at a firearm of any type. Just plain stupid. I can go on and on about this but to no avail. We are involved in a war that makes no sense either. First there were WMDs and that was found to be a lied. Next were are suposse to be teaching the other country how to protect themselves but with less than a year of training our young military brothers and sisters are going over there to help these countries out. Thats what the last president stated and said we were doing.
After all this time, if they don't know how to defend themselves, it's not "our" fault. The current president catches a lot of BS from everyone but the money wasted and lives taken isn't his fault. My cousin was killed over there for nothing.
Back to this topic, If any man or woman is old enough to fight in a war, they should be old enough to purchase a firearm. Just my take on it.

Sorry for the loss of your cousin BSmoothe1, I can understand your bitterness. As a fellow vet with a son going back x 3, I commend your cousin for his ultimate sacrifice. Old politicians start wars and young people spill their blood for it.
Declare victory and get the hell out. Hasn't been a President since Ford who has not got us into a fight to some degree or the other.
Sorry to get off subject, just hit a nerve.

dustin.carter21 wrote:When I was 20 I went to an academy outdoors to purchase an ar15. One there I asked the clerck if I could look at a Smith m&p 15. He asked for my age and I told him I was 20. He informed me that I had to be 21 to look at or purchase an ar15 per store policy. I called the manager over and informed him that because of his store policy that would deny a 20 yr old Iraq war veteran the right to bear arms, he just lost a $700 sale. I walked off when he gave me a dumbfounded look

and thank u for ur service

TheGreatGonzo wrote:Sorry, my friend, but the old racism argument is a straw argument. How many people do you know that choose when they wake up every day to be white or black? Everybody I know is born with their race. The decision to bear arms is just that...a decision. A person makes that choice every day as opposed to choosing the color of their skin. Let's say you own a gun store. Joe Schumckitello walks into your store and proceeds to pass out "Re-Elect President Obama" literature and applications to join the Brady Campaign. You tell him, in not so polite terms, he has to either stop handing out his garbage or leave. Have you just deprived him of his First Ammendment Right to free speech? Then he tells you he wants to purchase several handguns, because he plans to melt them down into a pro-gun-control sculpture (with the name of your store featured on the display) which will be prominently displayed in front of San Francisco City Hall. If you refuse to sell him the guns, have you turned his 2nd Ammendment right into a "hollow right"? After all, as long as he can legally purchase the firearm, what right do you have to decide whether to sell it to him or not?
Gonzo

With you on this one!!

I will say this, the current president has NO sense of how this world is when it comes to 2nd Amendment Rights. He can't that's obvious. Do I support him on anything against guns? NO. Cars, alcohol nor do guns kill people, It's the fools behind them. Don't know why he and others that oppose guns think they do but not once have they said stop buying cars or alcohol. He drinks himself and is proud to say it. Now that could be taken as offensive to some but because it's legal and it's something he likes to do, it's O.K. Here in MS and everywhere else we like guns, can't help if it's not his thing. Not one high capcity magazine has killed a person. If someone wanted to kill a person so badly, walking into a crowded place isn't the only place it can be done.
Yes, somethings should be just plain and common sense but some of the people are lacking in that area. Some we chose to lead.