Wal-Mart asking if ammo for handgun?

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:08 pm

Scored some .22 bricks at Wally-World Saturday, and the sporting goods register was down. When I checked out up front, the clerk asked if they were for a handgun. I told her no, figured it's none of their business. Anyone else gotten this question?

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:26 pm

It's required, Handgun ammo you need to be of age. So if you say handgun they will ask for ID (DOB), even if your old, gray hair if any/or bald. So I always answer NO, for rifle since I have both.

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:56 pm

At 52, old, graying and half bald nails it pretty good!

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:59 pm

blue68f100 wrote:It's required, Handgun ammo you need to be of age. So if you say handgun they will ask for ID (DOB), even if your old, gray hair if any/or bald. So I always answer NO, for rifle since I have both.

No big deal. it's a Federal law that has been on the books for years. Must be 18 to buy rifle ammo nd 21 to buy handgun ammo, same as with guns themselves. The cashier is just doing his/her job as the register beeps and prompts them to ask the question. As far as asking for ID, why not? All 7-11 stores in Michigan have a sign notifying customers the card ID for tobacco or alcohol products, no matter what age, why? That way they treat everyone equal and show no prejudice or discrimination. Can't fault a person for doing their job as required by regulations. Hell. i'm approaching 77 and it does not bother me.

bigfatdave · Post by **bigfatdave** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:11 pm

This crops up fairly frequently on various forums
( http://tinyurl.com/neu29p )
The counter drone at WalMart is just reading the prompts on their side of the register.
It is a silly policy, and a useless law, but don't bother arguing with the poor schmuck running the register in the sporting goods section ... they don't care, and they can't do anything about it.
For a while I would smile and start pointing out the use of every round in the box, or just smile and say "art project" ... but in the end I realized that I was being a jerk about it.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:29 pm

bigfatdave wrote:This crops up fairly frequently on various forums
( http://tinyurl.com/neu29p )
The counter drone at WalMart is just reading the prompts on their side of the register.
It is a silly policy, and a useless law, but don't bother arguing with the poor schmuck running the register in the sporting goods section ... they don't care, and they can't do anything about it.
For a while I would smile and start pointing out the use of every round in the box, or just smile and say "art project" ... but in the end I realized that I was being a jerk about it.

Right. why be a jerk? If they ask for ID give it to them,smile and both of you can have a good day. At my age, damn near 77, I would be overjoyed if they asked me to prove I was over 21.

arizona-hermit · Post by **arizona-hermit** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:41 am

DISCLAIMER - The following is a tongue-in-cheek response. It has no bearing on anyone, anything, or anywhere.

bearandoldman wrote: Right. why be a jerk? If they ask for ID give it to them,smile and both of you can have a good day. At my age, damn near 77, I would be overjoyed if they asked me to prove I was over 21.

How on earth could you actually 'prove' you are over 21... the majority of clerks will not know the answers to any questions that may be used to 'authenticate' age... some even WITH a crib sheet.

Driver's license you say? Nah, I know folks that have had dozens of those. Look at the vast majority of illegal 'immigrants' in this country today. They have all the proper paperwork showing they are native US citizens.

How many of us were '21' as a teenager... no, a driver's license is not proof.

Grey hair, beer belly, balding? Have you SEEN the teenagers around these days???

SSAN cards? Come on, there are a hundred places that will sell you a SSAN card and a wily person can get them for nothing direct from the government.

Laws (silly or not) are on the books that have never been, nor ever will be enforced. Walmart is simply complying with those that they know the enforcement folks are 'looking into'.

Soon, there won't be any commercial ammo for them to even ask the silly questions about... then the knock on your door will come (probably in the middle of the night) and a group of highly armed and armored 'gentlemen' will kindly ask to be shown your weapons that you once bought ammunition for. You will be given a choice of forfeiting said weapons or paying a huge 'licensing fee' on the spot.

Can you say "Yes M'lord... anything you desire Sire."

An armed populace is citizenry... unaramed ones are subjects.

So, when that teeny bopper politely asks "Are these for a hangun Sir?"... I recommend responding just as politely with....

"Oh no, these are for party favors and campfire jokes."

DISCLAIMER - The above was a tongue-in-cheek response. It has no bearing on anyone, anything, or anywhere.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:57 pm

I guess I was brought up in a different time in this country. I was always taught to be a gentleman as long as possible and treat all people the way I would want them to treat me. I believe that age law o ammo has been around for 40 years or so so it is nothing new. Instead of giving them some smartass answer, I just tell them it is for bot hand yes I am over 21, if necessary I will give e them my ID. I would rather have he/she remember me as the kind, polite elderly gentleman they checked out than be remembered as an obnoxious old jackass, other opinions will most likey vary excessively.

smokey · Post by **smokey** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:32 pm

bearandoldman wrote:I guess I was brought up in a different time in this country. I was always taught to be a gentleman as long as possible and treat all people the way I would want them to treat me. I believe that age law o ammo has been around for 40 years or so so it is nothing new. Instead of giving them some smartass answer, I just tell them it is for bot hand yes I am over 21, if necessary I will give e them my ID. I would rather have he/she remember me as the kind, polite elderly gentleman they checked out than be remembered as an obnoxious old jackass, other opinions will most likey vary excessively.

I agree completely. There is absolutely no need to get upset with someone who is only doing their job. The existence of a stupid law is not their fault.
I think we all need to pick our battles and we have a lot more important ones to worry about.

Georgezilla · Post by **Georgezilla** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:49 pm

I tend to get irritated when I see a fellow customer get short with and/or make rude remarks to floor workers/cashiers whom are merely obeying laws/store policies.

Sometimes I wonder if those people even realize that the employee they are talking to has no power (and probably never will) to change what they are complaining about.

greener · Post by **greener** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:47 pm

When they ask for ID I (a) tip extra if I'm in a restaurant or bar; (b) ask if they want years or mileage and show my ID if I'm anywhere else. No reason to argue with a store clerk. I assume they are doing their job to the best of their lights.

Every now and then I use my retired military ID when they ask for one. I've found several folks who do not believe my retired military ID is a real ID. One was at a hospital and another was a United Airlines ticket agent. The upside was I found Bass Pro shop giving a 10% discount.

Post by **Bullseye** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:04 pm

As many have stated, this question gets asked as a matter of routine all around the country. Not every state has this requirement but the big box stores enforce the policy in all their stores regardless of locality. In some states, all handgun ammunition sales are additionally recorded in a logbook register. I routinely say "rifle" if the ammo is for a dual purpose. I also agree it does no good to be rude or short with the poor cashier who's just following the store's policy of asking the question. They're just the messengers not the policy makers.

On the other hand, I find a lot of places that offer Active Duty/Retired Military discounts by using my retired Mil ID as a form of identification. My how the times have changed over the years, and I always be sure thank them for the courtesy that they are offering me with the discount.

R,
Bullseye

ruger22 · Post by **ruger22** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:17 pm

I wasn't rude to the clerk, I just told her, "No". I thought to myself how it was none of their business. I had honestly forgotten the age difference between rifle and handgun ammo purchase.

winshooter · Post by **winshooter** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:58 pm

I live in San Diego and of course this is a navy town. Kragen Auto Parts is one place that offers a military discount among others.......but not any of the big box stores such as K-Mart, Target, etc. I've bought bricks of .22 from K-Mart, Turners, Big 5 and others but can't remember (could be age induced) ever being asked if it was for a handgun or rifle. But then this is California so you never know from one day to the next. I too tell them my appreciation though for the military discount whenever I get it and usually get a "thanks for your service" in return. Always feels good to be appreciated and takes so little effort to do so.

Mike

Bullseye wrote: On the other hand, I find a lot of places that offer Active Duty/Retired Military discounts by using my retired Mil ID as a form of identification. My how the times have changed over the years, and I always be sure thank them for the courtesy that they are offering me with the discount.

R,
Bullseye

Post by **Bullseye** » Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:07 pm

I remember going to a Big 5 in San Diego, many years back, with some friends and inquiring about a specialized hunting rifle scope. The young girl behind the firearms counter glibly said, "We don't carry parts for those assassination rifles!" We all laughed but at the same time we were concerned because of the lack of firearms knowledge displayed was indicative of the way many folks in California were leaning on guns at that time.

R,
Bullseye