Shuttershock
Last week, Cecil Trimble, a 35-year-old manager in the food service industry,
decided to take his fishing reel to the Bass Pro Shop in Tampa for a line
replacement. As he waited, he meandered to the gun department where he found
the
SIG SAUER P365 XMACRO, an item he had been keen to acquire for several weeks.
The 9mm pistol was in high demand and Bass Pro Shop priced it at
approximately $800. This didn't deter Trimble who informed the sales
representative of his intent to purchase. He filled out a Form 4473 and
presented his Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, a document which
made him exempt from any waiting period. Having previously bought several
firearms from Bass Pro Shop, Trimble anticipated a quick transaction.
Sig Sauer P365X Macro
However, the shop attendant informed him, "The ATF has approved you, but
we're rejecting the sale," Trimble shared with the Second Amendment
Foundation's Investigative Journalism Project.
Incredulous, Trimble sought an explanation. He was informed that his
brother-in-law had unsuccessfully attempted to purchase a firearm from the
same shop a month prior due to a self-denial on Form 4473, likely due to
misinterpreting a question. Although his brother-in-law had moved out from
their shared residence years ago, he had neglected to update his address on
his driver's license.
Shuttershock
When Trimble inquired how this affected his purchase, he was told that Bass
Pro's policy prevents the sale of firearms to individuals residing at the
same address as someone who has had a purchase denied. "He hasn’t lived with
me for years. I understand the concern about straw purchases, but his
attempt was for a $200 revolver while mine is for an $800 9mm," Trimble
expressed.
Although the firearms manager agreed with Trimble, he was unable to reach
the compliance GM to resolve the matter. Now, Trimble and anyone else at his
address are prohibited from purchasing firearms from Bass Pro.
Trimble argues his brother-in-law, a retired military personnel and Florida
CWFL holder, is not a prohibited person. He speculates his brother-in-law
misunderstood a question on Form 4473, but the staff remained resolute. "My
concern is, if I moved into a residence previously occupied by someone who
was denied, I couldn't prove I'm not involved in a straw purchase, and I'd
be forever banned from purchasing from Bass Pro," says Trimble.
Bass Pro did not respond to numerous attempts to obtain their commentary on
this story, whether from their corporate communications team or the Tampa
facility's general manager, Jarron Ritchie.
Inquiries directed to Bass Pro's firearm compliance directors were
redirected to their corporate communications team, who also did not respond.
A conversation with "Joe," a manager at the Tampa store, initially suggested
ATF was responsible, but he later admitted, "We do maintain a data record on
this." However, he declined to elaborate on their corporate background check
policy. "At store level, I'm not permitted to discuss these matters," Joe
expressed.
It's noteworthy that a gun retailer can deny a firearm transfer to anyone,
and doesn't need a specific reason for the refusal.
The Biden-Harris administration's tough stance on gun dealers has led to a
500% increase in Federal Firearm License revocations since their
inauguration. If a big-box gun store like Bass Pro lost its FFL, it would be
disastrous for the store and its patrons, explaining their caution when
transferring firearms.
However, Bass Pro's concern over straw purchases seems misplaced in this
context. Typically, straw purchases occur within 72 hours of a denial, not a
month later, and usually involve the same gun, not a $200 revolver followed
by an $800 9mm.
The following day, Trimble found and purchased a P365 from a local gun
store. The entire experience brought to mind another business fiasco.
Recalling the Dick's Sporting Goods controversy, Trimble stated, "This could
be a slippery slope similar to what happened with Dick's." He added,
"They're not preventing straw purchases. I responded to that question on a
federal form, which should be adequate. Bass Pro said they'd call me the
next day. I'm still awaiting that call."
While Bass Pro is within its rights to establish its policies, they should
also be prepared to clarify them when queried by the public. Even during its
controversial period, Dick's managed to do this.
No comments:
Post a Comment