Dunham's Sports (courtesy marketplace.michigan.com)

TTAG Facebook page reader Michael Tallent sent this to us:

I was passing by today and randomly stopped in to look at the pistol selection at Dunham’s Sporting Goods in Shelby, NC. Every handgun in the case has a trigger lock on it. Cool. Theft deterrent. OK. I ask to see a pistol from the case and I am informed that per store policy, I must have a valid ID and a Pistol Purchase Permit (oh the joys of NC’s antiquated system) or a Concealed Handgun Permit to even hold it. I have never heard of such foolishness, but we establish that I meet the requirements and he removes the gun from the case . . .

He tries to clear the weapon with the trigger lock on it. Obviously, it doesn’t work. I painfully watch him try three times before I, the customer, had to inform him he would not be able to manipulate the slide with it locked as it was. He then tries to hand me the gun with the lock still on it.

I ask if he would remove the lock and I am informed that is also against store policy. I didn’t even touch the gun, politely voiced my dissatisfaction, and left.

So, how is a potential customer supposed to: A) judge the weight/balance in their hand with the lock on it B) feel the reach to the trigger C) judge the ease of operating the safety/magazine release/slide lock lever D) judge trigger pull/stacking/break/overtravel/reset E) judge whether or not a female or older person has the hand strength to manipulate the slide?

Basically, Dunham’s is asking a customer to buy blind. It also seems as if they are actively trying to alienate one of the largest demographic of potential customers, the gun enthusiast. It also seems as if they employ salesmen who do not even understand basic operation of the product they are selling. And lastly, I was told special order of an item not in the case is unavailable.

All this in one of the more 2A friendly states, to top it off. But, Dunham’s will not ever have to worry about me buying so much as a pack of gum in their store. As a matter of fact, I will never set foot even in their parking lot ever again. Rant complete.

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128 COMMENTS

  1. Chalk up another one for the friendly local gun shop where one doesn’t run into such foolishness…

    You might want to send a copy of the above billet-doux to Dunham’s corporate explaining why they’ve lost your custom.

    -MMM-

    • Honestly, after having worked at Dunhams for 4 years, their corporate is not interested in customer dissatisfaction. They also do not hire people who have knowledge or expertise. They just need bodies to fill the positions. They don’t train employees in specific departments. It’s not the employee’s fault he doesn’t know anything; it’s the company’s for hiring him. As far as the trigger lock goes, the employees agree that it’s a stupid policy. We have no control over it though, nor do we have the power to influence the policy maker’s decisions. We are just lowly employees who were hired because we breath oxygen. Their web site doesn’t even have an 800 number to call and complain. It’s just a mailing address. They know better than to have a phone number because it would be blowing up constantly with customer complaints.

  2. Liability .At the rate society is losing brain cells,pretty soon test driving a Ferrari will be easier then dry firing a display gun. Risking a $50K settlement for a $900 one time sale is a business no brainer.
    Too many videos and lawsuits regarding idiot customers perforating the scenery or themselves.I can personally vouch for wanting body armor from all the times ive been swept every time I visit the local gun counter.

    • Please explain to me what the liability is around allowing a customer to dry fire a gun?

      Its not at all like driving a Ferrari on a public road since dry firing a gun poses zero risk to anyone.

      • The cop that shoots his finger off with a gun shop gun comes to mind.

        The shotgun slug that went through the local k mart ceiling comes to mind too.

        I’m assuming those guns were all being dry fired

        • Technically those guns were fired. Fail on the store employees and customers for not clearing the weapons first.

        • There’s some stuff going on, there. Prey tell, how in the world did a live round EVER get into a firearm inside a store? Does someone think that was an accident? Yes, everyone involved should have personally cleared the weapon prior to “dry fire”, but that does not mean there was not some shit going on. WHY was a live round ever within 5 feet of a firearm inside a store? Where did it come from? Did someone buy 50 rounds and only get 49? We’re being suckered, and simply raving on about how the clerk and the customer were guilty of not checking properly does not answer the question of WHO PUT THAT LIVE ROUND IN THE CHAMBER? And why?

        • “WHO PUT THAT LIVE ROUND IN THE CHAMBER? And why?”

          Perhaps the last customer who fondled it…

          Why? A sick sense of humor?

        • If I recall correctly, his negligent discharge was with his own weapon, not one he was looking at in the gun shop.

          sacorey says:
          February 21, 2015 at 15:23

          The cop that shoots his finger off with a gun shop gun comes to mind.

        • Quite aside from the massive FAIL of having a loaded pistol in the display case, not clearing it before handing it to the customer, and the LEO customer not clearing it for himself, said LEO disregarded ALL of the four safety rules and further endangered at least four people (other than his finger) downrange of the muzzle of that pistol at the time he stupidly put his finger on the trigger and squeezed.

          Hope that hurt like hell and the finger was permanently detached – maybe it will remind him every time he picks his nose what an idiot he is.

          What was that I heard somewhere about only cops and military should be trusted with guns?

      • Well, he could have a loaded magazine in his pocket for the gun he is going to ask to see and manipulate without a gun lock. Then, all of a sudden, he whips in his magazine and starts mowing the staff and other customers down. Heck, he could have multiple mags on him! It’d be another Newtown, sort of….

        There’s the liability.

        • In Huntington WV one of the gun stores kept new guns and pistols behind the counter. But used long guns were in racks on the floor and people could browse and handle them at will.

          A man came in, picked a shotgun off the used rack and chambered a shell he brought with him. He killed himself right there. When the store reopened all the guns, new and used were behind the counter.

  4. Inch by inch, step by step…

    I do hope Michael took the time to send a copy of this post to the owners and managers of that gun store… and ideally to ALL the local gun stores – or even all of them in the state, if possible.

  5. Sadly, I used to work at a small gun store, where people would regularly come in, pick my brain for hours about a particular gun, and then go buy it at a big box store like the one described just to save twenty bucks.

    • It never bothered me.

      I was paid to show up and do as I was told.

      Showing guns to customers sure as hell was better than having to listen to the shop owner’s brain-damaged drug-addicted fvckwit kid blather on about whatever the hell he would blather on about.

      Q.E.D.

    • Wasting any salesman’s time in such a manner, when you have no intention to buy, is morally bankrupt. I’ve lost a minor friend or three saying so much.

      • Window shop at a gun show where the guns are laid out by the hundreds and you are free to feel them up for as long as you want

    • Personally I only shop at stores that have some people on staff with a friggin’ clue. I don’t mind paying a bit more. But then I’m in Kommieforniastan and we can’t have Graham Crackers into the shape of a AR so……..

  6. Their stores, their rules. Seems pretty stupid to try to sell firearms, but not let the customer try them out. I’m sure though that in NC there is no shortage of other gun shops who are more than willing to act sensibly and work to make the sale.

    • Tons of em. A lot of them are really pricey here though. You really have to cherry pick to try and find a store that’s both reasonably priced, and that has a good selection.

      • Now, if only there were a form of communication media that allowed individuals to easily share their experiences and opinions, good and bad, with a wide audience. Oh wait, there is! 😀

  8. That is incredibly irritating. I would never buy a gun from a store like that. I have never experienced anything like that.

  9. Never encountered such draconian follishness and I live in CA. Have to have an HSC in CA to purchase a handgun. Examine the gun you want and if you want it you get the HSC on the spot. Question so simple even kapo bloomberg could pass with a closed book.

    HSC is good for five years.

    • And its free! Oh wait never mind, nothing in CA is free. Well at least the proceeds go to a good cause, oh wait, scratch that one too…..

      • Last time I had to do it (and the last time ever now that I’m in DFW) it was $25 to renew, tacked on to the $25 DROS fee.

    • I remember when the HSC was “for life”, until the nitwits in Sack’o’tomatoes finally twigged to yet another means of bleeding the wallets of us evil gun owners by making it renewable. And for a while, not every gun shop could “administer” the test, since the “administrator” had to be “certified” by the state. I.e. the FFL had to cough up an unknown-to-me amount of cash to the state for the privilege of being allowed to hand you the test booklet and a pencil to fill out the answer sheet.

      • For a time I was able to dodge the hsc requirement by showing my dd214. Then the state realized it was losing 25 bucks every 5 years and it was showing trust in some of its citizens. Both had to stop.

        • Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup! Calguns Foundation is fighting a good fight and all, but there’s a LOT of damage done that may never be undone. I bid adieu to CA last September when I finally landed an awesome telecomm job out here in Richardson, but the California I was born and raised in died about 25 years ago. I’d love it for my mom and grandmother to sell their place and GTFO, but that ain’t happening.

  10. Seems that with a semi-auto and the inability to rack the slide due to the trigger lock, there was no practical way to ensure that the firearm was unloaded. Wise to not even touch the gun. It’s common courtesy to clear the firearm before handling and if they can’t even do that, I’d say help them learn by avoiding this place completely.

  11. I usually buy from a gunshop anyway. They’re generally a lot friendlier, have more knowledge and are more willing and able to help you if you have a problem with the gun.

  12. What’s even more bitterly ironic is that they would probably refuse to hire someone with actual knowledge of firearms, etc out of some central dumbness or fear of the unknown, so completing the circle of stupidity. Never heard of Dunham’s anyway.

    Tom

  14. looks to me as if dunham’s sports is a BATF(E, whatever) sting operation manned by new-hires from MDA. the operation is probably looking to expose a non-entitled/privileged person to attempt to take control of the gun (in order to demonstrate to the counter clerk how the lock can be removed or overcome). actually, the shop is more likely a tax loser for some rich liberal who doesn’t care if there are any sales at all. congrats to RF for uncovering yet another vacuumhead !!

    • Dunham’s is a pretty large sporting goods chain (200+ stores). This isn’t a government/Bloomberg/MDA conspiracy, it’s a bunch of idiot corporate lawyers writing stupid policies for a product they don’t understand.

      • if we haven’t heard of them in texas, they are small potatoes (or potado, here). sounds like a mom and pop franchised.

        seriously, lazy corporate lawyers (corporate lawyers are there to prevent anything at all from taking place) would just force the company to get out of the gun/ammo business. this chain is probably up to something (look at the banks who cave to chokepoint).

        besides, nefarious plots are more interesting.

      • aahhh sssooooo; the conspiracy widens. i can see the headlines now, “gun nuts are so rabid to buy guns, they purchase the latest, greatest toy without even knowing if they can properly operate the firearm.”

        this stuff is better than reality tv.

  15. I just went through the same shit yesterday with my daughter at a Dunhams in Michigan. Trigger locks on every thing. I wanted her to look at a few revolvers and try the trigger pull. No way….
    I once asked the guy why they keep all rifle ammo out on the shelves, but keep pistol ammo locked up behind the counter? I asked this while he carried my ammo up to the register cause I couldn’t carry it myself. He said they, and i’m paraphrasing here, that the management is afraid that some robber is so poor he cant afford to come rob the place with a loaded gun. In theory, he could come into the store grab a box of ammo, load up and rob them. So I asked him, So what would stop someone from loading up after they bought the ammo and robbing the store? He just shrugged his shoulders and said, Hey, I just work here….

    • A good example of just making shit up hoping you will stop asking questions. Usually comes out as “liability”.

    • I bet a lot of this is reaction to last year’s theft from a Michigan Dunham’s that had just started carrying handguns. Unattended, unlocked showcase, a customer/criminal reached in and helped himself. Stuck a handgun in his coat and left. They know that from the video. Don’t know if he ever got caught.

      • The trigger lock does not prevent what you described. The employee in the story above was going to hand the gun to the customer. He could have still put it into his pocket and ran out, right?

        Sounds to me like that outfit is run (at the Corporate level) by anti’s. They are illogical and don’t understand guns, but they don’t mind profiting by the sale.

      • That was the Dunhams in Chesterfield, they had only been carrying pistols a few months when that happened. During weekdays they have minimal staff working with customers and the guy with the keys could be anywhere in the store. During the great ammo shortage that was one of the few stores in the area with .45 colt factory loads in stock. The first time I purchased a firearm was a m44 mosin for $75 at a Dunhams in Grand Rapids, it is not uncommon to see Dunhams having 91/30s for $300 these days.

    • “He said they, and i’m paraphrasing here, that the management is afraid that some robber is so poor he cant afford to come rob the place with a loaded gun. In theory, he could come into the store grab a box of ammo, load up and rob them. “

      Well, one answer to that would be to have knowledgeable staff that OPEN CARRY in the store and ENCOURAGE open carry for the customers.

      What’s he’s describing would take a good bit of time and even with the action vs reaction differential, I think a store employee standing right there could draw (and fire if need be) int he time it takes someone to grab a box of ammo, open it, load the gun and return it to battery.

      Good grief. If that’s really their justification, that’s pretty weak.

    • F.C. would humiliate them in ways they never knew were possible before kicking them out of his shop.

      And then posting about it on Reddit and-or TTAG.

  17. So bogus, my LGS (in NW Wisconsin) lets me handle nearly anything, if I ask (I usually don’t have to..), they’ve even let me behind the counter.

  18. The locks (and ‘policies’) may be to protect the store itself; have you read about some of the recent screw ups by LGS?

  20. I ran into this exact handgun handling policy at Bass Pro Shop in Orlando. I told the employee never mind and walked out and purchased the same gun at a small, local gunshop.

    • The one on I-Drive? Don’t believe they leave the lock or ask for a permit. It would be dumb of them to ask for a permit in Florida. Permit, WTF?! Here’s my permit: the US Constitution….

      I wouldn’t go back there though, when you want to talk to anyone you need to take a ticket – are you kidding me?! Took forever for someone to talk to me, plus I felt rushed. I went there once, and never returned. East Orange Shooting Sports is way more helpful, plus you don’t feel rushed, and it’s only about 15 min drive away from me, so I won’t be returning to Bass Pro anytime soon.

  21. Same thing at Gander Mountain in Valdosta, GA. Also, wanted to take _my_ gun and clear it… Have a nice day, losers. Found what I wanted for a lot less on armslist, and gave my money to a more deserving individual, not a dickbag corporate traitor.

  22. A bit more than 30 yrs. ago on Long Island, I went with a friend (who had jumped through all the hoops to get a N.Y.S. pistol permit; the process of which took about a year) to a local gun store. He was looking in the display case, and asked to see a polished revolver w/ a 8″ barrel. An older woman behind the counter; doing the best imitation I have ever seen of ‘Large Marge’ from the Pee Wee Herman movie; bellows ‘Can I see ya permit?’ I moved to Florida shortly after that and am constantly amazed at the openness and courtesy I get at local gun shops and shows. SAFE ACT that, Cuomo.

    • Cuomo types do NOT care if gun enthusiasts leave. As long as they get a comfortable margin over 50%.
      Look at Detroit’s example – active encouragement of the middle class and law abiding to leave destroyed the city. But the One Party State continues on… Until Other People’s Money runs out…

    • Oh that made me chuckle, then I thought, you know, I’m surprised some place hasnt done that yet…

      • Isn’t that what buying on the Internet is, though? Not for folks that already have found a way/place to handle the gun and know what they want, of course, but it seems to be what stores like this expect.

        At some point, one generally wants to handle a handgun before buying it.

  24. I took an old sporterized Springfield 03A3 to a Cabela’s to see what pittance they’d offer me for it. But first, I flipped the magazine cut off on. It was pretty funny watching the clerk struggle attempting to work the action. Sold it later on Armslist.

    • Don’t leave us hanging what did they offer? I know gander only offers 1/6 retail for excellent condition firearms… then they try and sell the used guns for retail. When it comes to guns it is armslist, lgs, or online if a really smokin deal.

  25. Academy Sports & Outdoors has the same “Don’t even THINK about asking us to remove that lock!” policy. I will admit that I have bought a few guns there though. I guess I’m more of an armchair activist. Sorry.

    • I’ve bought one gun at Academy sports. Simply asked the clerk if they had any in the safe, he put 3 of the same model on the counter (no locks) and I picked the one I wanted. I usually only buy at about 3 LGS but it was pretty painless for an Academy only gun.

    • Generally, most of the stores I’ve gone to, they drop the magazine, and cycle the action and check the chamber before they hand it to you. Though I can’t recall if the sales person at Academy did. I think he just put it on the counter without examining it. Didn’t even bother at the nearest Dick’s when they added a firearms section since their prices were so high, just told the sales guy “no, just browsing, thanks” and went on my merry way.

      • He’s talking about this story where the clerk could not cycle the action and show clear to the customer.

  28. Sadly there are some similar jerks near me in Illinois. Megasports in Plainfield(where I bought my first semi) won’t even let you in the door without a damn FOID card. Never encountered this much stupid in Indiana-even Cabelas is happy to remove rifle/shotgun locks on their public used gun racks. BTW I was really unimpressed when I looked at Dunhams online…

  29. Here in the DFW Metroplex, store policies vary. Big box stores like Dick’s and Academy have the trigger locks and can’t/won’t remove them, but don’t have any nonsense about requiring you to show a CHL before they pull them out of the case. Cabelas (both Allen and Ft. Worth), the handguns are behind glass, and new rifles are on the wall, but consignment rifles are racked out in the aisles for customers to pick up and examine at their leisure, nary a trigger lock to be had.

    Cabelas does have a staging area for sold firearms and once you’re done shopping, one of the gun counter employees will walk your guns out with you to the exit. That’s understandable though, for security/liability. In my case, I purchased a consignment 2 tone stainless/black SIG P226 in .40 and purchased a hard case and they put the pistol in the case, and put security tape over the clasps with the admonition to leave the tape on while I was in the store.

    Local gun stores/ranges like Bullet Trap and Armadillo Guns, you tell the person at the counter which one you’d like to examine, and they pull it out of the case or off the wall, with none of this trigger lock nonsense.

    • Cabelas is my favorite big box store. Very little BS. They support my gun rights and have NRA events. They also have a good layaway plan and didn’t price gouge during the 2013 debacle…and will deal on used guns.

      • Yeah, they were doing 10% off used guns when I got the SIG. I *might* have been able to find it cheaper on Texas Gun Trader or Armslist, but I’ve also seen people there asking a lot more than I paid at Cabelas for similar guns. I’m happy with it, and it was well within my means, so I have no complaints.

    • “Cabelas does have a staging area for sold firearms and once you’re done shopping, one of the gun counter employees will walk your guns out with you to the exit. That’s understandable though, for security/liability.”

      Please explain how that is understandable. When I have gone to Cabellas I have been armed, with a real gun loaded with live ammo on my belt. To purchase a firearm you go through a NICS check. Where is there any question of security/liability after you have purchased a firearm, which is anywhere near the question which exists when you walk in the door, a completely unknown quantity? What you are describing is an incredibly offensive insult. Unless I was buying a rare antique or something, I would say “Never mind, refund my money and cancel the sale.”

  30. Sounds like shopping in MA. My cousin came to visit me out of state. He was irritated when he found out he couldn’t even hold a gun because he didn’t have a FOID or LTC. It’s annoying a heck. I’m glad the stores I frequent in NC will let you see whatever without a stupid trigger lock. I just hate that until my CCW arrives I can’t buy anything. Pistol permits are stupid.

    • I see more people open carry here than any other state I have lived in. I also haven’t seen this many guns stores in my life in one spot. I think except for the pistol permit it’s fairly gun friendly.

    • Unsubstantiated claim stated as fact we should just accept?

      NC is not that bad. Let’s see…

      State Preemption

      Open Carry

      Fixed a bunch of BAD laws recently (we now have restaurant carry, improved having car in vehicle on school property, no more “anyplace people pay admission” nonsense and a few others).

      Statute regarding CC has teeth in regard to crap like folks saying “We prefer you don’t” not meeting the standard of the law for restricting CC.

      Still being worked on (with growing momentum so far as I can tell): Constitutional Carry and actual carry on school grounds.

      There is room for improvement (and improvements are being aggressively sought) but it’s not that bad.

      So…I stated my case with verifiable, documented facts. What specifics do you have that NC is not a gun friendly state?

      • Only state in The South that requires a permit to by a hand gun. No gun signs carry force of law. Must inform a LEO. The vehicle transport laws are very cryptic. The preemption law doesn’t seem all that uniform especially regarding “open carry.”

        • That’s the best you can come up with to say it’s “bad?”

          Compare to truly ‘bad’ states and get back to me. The only one on your list that is really freedom limiting is the permit to buy stuff.

          The rest are paperwork details…those can continue to be fine tuned, but they don’t stop you from legally carrying in any way.

          Also, the signs having force of law can be an advantage in SOME circumstances…such as the Target “request” has no meaning whatsoever precisely because the law specifically defines the ONLY way a private property owner can prohibit carry.

          Go live in NJ for a few months can come back and tell me how bad NC is…or OC in SC if you feel like for some reason NC should only be compared to SE states.

          I never said NC was “perfect.” Constitutional Carry is in the works, but it will take a few years probably to pass. But, it’s coming. Well, it will if we work for it.

      • @JR,
        I have lived in many states, particularly in the SE and NC is not the utopia you think it is. I think only SC is worst than NC when it comes to this topic. Go check the laws in GA, LA, FL. Except for open carry, NC laws are very lacking, and even with open carry here I’ve never seen anyone other than Law enforcement open carry (RTP area).
        Heck, I can’t even find a decent range around here that doesn’t require a 50 min drive each way.

        • That’s probably because RTP is one of the most liberal parts of NC with an influx of Yankees and yuppies. Open carry is commonplace over here west of I-85.

        • “Except for open carry, NC laws are very lacking”

          How so? Can you be more specific than a vague claim of “lacking?” I’ve offered up some specific ways NC laws are “pretty good.”

          I’m seeing it from a “momentum” standpoint. The laws here are not very bad and getting better. We have some momentum in the GA and moving in the right direction.

          I wonder if some of you commenting on how bad it is here are unaware of the legislative changes in the last 2 years?

  33. I got this same treatment at a Dunhams in MI. when I asked to see a BB pistol, a purchase permit to inspect an airgun.

    • I work at a Dunham’s in Wisco, and we don’t have to see id’s for air guns. Just lack of knowledge on associates part.

  34. I had a similar experience a few years ago in a Wal-Mart. I was ready to buy a savage bolt-action .22, but because the clerk wouldn’t remove the trigger lock so I could check the function of the action and feel of the trigger per store policy, I took my money elsewhere.

  35. I live within thirty miles of the Dunham’s location in Wadesboro, NC. I had some thoughts in the past of visiting and maybe shopping in that location, I have never been in the store. Forget shopping there, I will keep my streak of never visiting the store intact. Thanks for the heads up.

  36. I had an issue while buying a shotgun at Dick’s (before I stopped going to DIck’s). The new gun had trigger lock. I asked if I could dry fire it. I was told no: the lock could only be removed just before the sales person walked me to the register up front.

    I asked “what if it doesn’t work?”.

    She responded’ “contact the manufacturer.”

    Yeah, right.

    (I admit it–I bought it anyway. And it did work.)

  37. We got a new Dunham’s here and they did the same routine on me except they wanted to hold my concealed permit and my driver licence until I finished looking at the gun. I told him that I wasn’t interested anymore. Dunham’s also has a price match policy but only on in stock items and if the item is available for less in the same town. The manager at the Dunham’s is a member of our gun club.

  38. There are too many places online to purchase a firearm cheaply. I have purchased 5 online in the last 9 months. Prices are too good to pass up. My preferred LGS only charges 20.000 for the transfer.

  40. They just opened a Dunham’s near me. Locks on everything, ammo prices are horrible ($80 for 120 rounds of XM193 and $18 for a box of Hornady .17 hmr). I can get the same ammo for $39 and $12, respectively at my local shop. Plus, they extend the Illinois 3 day handgun wait to 4 days. Why would anyone give them their money?

  41. RF and you other guys in Austin area, get your sorry butts out to Fort Fletch on RR 620, your arms will get tired from holding all the guns he’ll load onto you, “try this, try that!” Looks the size of a 100-year-old outhouse, inside you think you’ve walked into Dr. Who’s TARDIS! He has everything, when he doesn’t he can get it before tomorrow, and he likes guns, and he likes people who like guns. He discounts pretty well, I think, but I don’t really care, I love his store. He had a .300 Win Mag Aimpoint for $8000 under retail last time I was there.

    • Ft Fletch…I’ll have to try it.

      Never had a problem at Cabela’s or Gander Mountain. Asked to see something and they handed it over. Guns Plus in Georgetown is a favorite.

  42. Dunhams is a dump and the place looks like a slightly nicer Big Lots with sporting goods. But they do have some decent deals on ammo.

  43. Most of my handguns were bought off gun broker. I like Ruger handguns, know the quality Buy from gunbroker.com, have gun shipped to my favorite gun store in South Austin, they put the box on counter with gun in a case. I pick it up, safety check it, dry fire while they are running NiC, charge $20.00 ($5.00 off for having Texas CHL) They trust me to know how to safely handle a gun. I’ve had them sell a couple of guns for me as well on consignment. Really nice people there. Have no use for big box retail stores, except for ammo purchases.

  45. Ah, yes, North Carolina’s Pistol Permit Purchase system. An unspeakable out-moded remnant of the Antebellum South’s Jim Crow Era. To think that our own state Sheriff’s Association fought tooth-and-nail to keep such racist, classist tripe on the books.

    All at the behest of Nanny Loonberg and his sock-puppets in the MDA, no less.

    “Oh, but it’s less painful now!” STFU. It should never have been there in the first place, and the fact that most all of these so-called “Sheriffs” are Democrats (or Democrats in Republican colors, take your pick) should clue you in to something. That something being that racism and gun control go hand-in-hand because the latter was the direct and inextricable result of the former. It should come as no surprise that the party that fought to keep chattel slavery alive not only devised a way to keep them disarmed, but actively fought to keep it unto the present day.

    I applaud those few Democrats that actively seek to expand the freedoms of their constituents, but they are indeed a rare bird.

    Sadly, the Republicans are more often than not little better.

  46. We don’t need your service anyway….. Why would we want you to try a gun with a trigger lock not on it?!? With ammo about 20ft away, you could easily load it and go on a rampage….. Dicks sporting goods is the same way sir. Obviously if you are buying a gun you know some things about the one you want. And if you don’t then you yourself are buying blind as well.

  47. You did send the store AND corporate management an email or letter explaining what happened, and your dissatisfaction, right?

    Otherwise, you just wasted a lot of electrons preaching to the choir.

  48. Places like Dunham’s have totally incompetent employees working in their gun departments. Conversely most small shops are meeting spots for the local chapter of Douchebags Anonymous. I’ve taken all my business to the internet and couldn’t be happier.

  50. NC is the only state in The South that requires a permit to buy a pistol. Too damn many communist yankees moved to NC.

    • When did these “communist yankees” move to North Carolina? Because that stupid pistol permit system has been in place since 1919.

  51. When the store goes out of business, the mainstream press will say it was because of reduced gun demand or a bad economy!

  52. Whoa. This comment section cooked off very quickly.

    I just wanted to share my very positive experience with a Dunham’s associate to offset any negative feelings that might be bandied about. It was such a positive experience that it still stands out as one of my best customer service experiences to date.

    Nothing too drastic. I went into a Dunhams in Richmond IN because I had heard that we were going to be getting the option to hunt deer with rifles with straight walled cartridges in OH soon. I went in to look at their selection of lever action rifles. The place was packed and my experience with busy gun stores / gun counters is that, because I look deceptively young, I’m going to be passed over many more times than is fair. I often explain to people that, “I feel like I need to walk into gun buying situations waving a fat stack around in my hand.” to get noticed. This was not the case at Dunhams, as one of the two associates approached me after maybe two to three minutes. I was then shocked at the ease with which they guy started handing me rifles to shoulder. Even employees of one of my LGSs act as if I have I should have to sign a form that states that I have an intent to buy before they’ll hand me anything. Since then I’ve always had Dunhams in my “surprisingly good experience” column right below Rural King.

    I feel that the “Big Box Stores” get an unfair rap. It’s kind of like we’re lumping all the people from one category into a “bad” column because of the actions of some (okay, maybe most) of their peers… Sound familiar?

  53. I’ve had a similar experience at a Bass Pro store. Wanted to check out the trigger on a 1911 I was going to buy there that day, and store policy was they don’t take off the trigger lock until after you purchase the gun, and even then they walk you up to the exit at the front of the store before they give you the gun you have already purchased! All that was missing was the orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

    Needless to say, I didn’t buy anything there that day, and haven’t ever gone back to one of their stores.

    BTW, what gun was it you can’t clear with a trigger lock on?

  54. I was at my local N.C. Dunham’s recently, and asked to compare a handgun in the store with one I had been considering at an online retailer. When I casually mentioned that there was another model (unavailable at Dunham’s) I was thinking about purchasing online, the salesman scoffed at the thought and replied with a nothing short of condescending, “What kind of fool would buy a gun without handling it first?” Kind of taken aback, I asked if he could remove the trigger lock on this particular model so I could get a better feel for it. He denied the request, stating it was store policy. So I asked…

    “Would I be a fool to buy this gun from you without handling it first?”

    He let out a clearly humbled chuckle, but provided no response. I promptly left the store without spending a penny or saying a word.

  55. Well I live in South Carolina, and luckily we don’t have an antiquated or restrictive law like that. Granted it would be easier for me to buy a pistol or any gun really with a CWP license, but I have my qualms about that. But in SC we just have to go through a nics check that takes 10 to 15 minutes and you’re out the door with your “precious!”

  56. While it is bullshit, I’m sure their employees are also not permitted to carry so it’s probably best that they not hand out unsecured firearms to random people. Having said all that, they really should just not sell guns.

  58. Used to frequent a gun store in NC where the guy would ask to see a pistol permit to handle one of his handguns in the glass show cases. Once he knew you and or if you came in a lot (me, but I never bought much from him) he didnt ask for the permit. He said he got so much foot traffic in where people just wanted to finger intercourse everything in the store he started asking for permits as a deterrent. I feel for anyone who has chosen retail as a way to make a living. Just too many people walking around that should have been drowned at birth.

  60. I believe I was the associate that showed this gentleman the gun. If I remember correctly it was a Beretta 92FS. Yeah I looked inexperienced when I showed the gun, but I honestly did not know that the slide would not come back since it was DA/SA. It is a habit for me to check to see if the firearm is loaded or not. Even with the trigger safety I like knowing that there is not a round in the chamber. Plus this was just after that man shot his finger when he was looking at a gun in a pawn shop, so better safe than sorry in my opinion. To answer some of your questions no we cannot carry at Dunham’s. And recently it was changed to where we can sell long guns to residents of SC, but only to SC. Sorry if your experience at Dunham’s was bad.

    Allan

  61. I too have written Dunham’s off my list of businesses I patronize. Plus, I have been joined by dozens of my family and fellow sportsmen when i told them about how both my wife and I were denied our legal rights to purchase firearms Dunham’s had for sale.
    I had hand selected an old WWII vintage Japanese rifle from several they had in store that they had listed as a “Father’s Day Only Special” and made a long trip back to the store, arriving promptly at opening time on Father’s Day to purchase it. I filled out the FFL Applcation, showed my drivers license, and was informed that “We cant sell you this rifle.” Turns out I hadn’t written my address exactly as it was on my driver’s license. I asked to correct the error on the form or to complete a new application and they refused. I asked to visit with the Manager and he too refused to allow me to correct the error. I was getting pretty agitzated by now, but calmly asked them to lay it aside for a few minutes and my wife would be in to purchase it, as it was intended to part of her interior decorating wall display of WWII memorabilia in our home anyhow. They stated, “We can’t sell her this rifle.” When I inquired why, they stated that would constitute a “sham purchase.” Now I WAS HOT!!
    I left the store informing them that I and none of my friends and family would ever set foot in a Dunham’s again. I called their corporate office and went through a series of referrals until I ultimately was contacted by a VP who said he’d sell me the rifle, which actually had already been sold to someone else. As it was already gone, I suggested that we could put the whole matter to rest if he’d apologize, and he repeatedly refused.
    IS THIS ANYWAY TO TREAT A CUSTOMER??!!!

  62. I really wanted to like Dunham’s Sports they have good coupons but after it was mad e clear to me that my attempt to purchase a firearm legally was rejected just because I had tried to make the purchase in a legal manner I can make no other conclusion than that Dunham’s is actively hostile to gun owners. This was even after I called back and spoke to the manager again and he had looked up the law and admitted that I had correctly interpreted the instructions on the Form 4473. You gauge my experience below.
    I had gone into the store with my Wife to purchase a Heritage Rough Rider Pistol Dunham’s had on coupon for $99.00 for my daughter’s birthday. I told the salesman what I needed, and he went and got a manager. I do not know the names of either unfortunately when I left I was upset and forgot to get them. The manager informed me that since I was buying it as a gift he would not sell it to me. I pointed out that it is perfectly legal to purchase a firearm as a gift. Question 11.a. on the form 4473 addresses this instance. I them asked him if he would have sold it to me if I had stated it was for me. He stated that would be illegal but nodded yes when I ask if they would have done it. So essentially the manager told me if I had broken the law they would serve me but since I disclosed my intent to purchase in a legal manner that he would not sell to me. It is preposterous to sell guns yet advocate them doing it in such a way as to not comply with the law. I was the original purchaser under the above stated instruction on the form 4473 and was not in violation of the regulation in anyway. Law abiding gun owners have enough problems with their image at the moment without having a company who should be a leader in the industry causing these types of issues. Someone stated that it may have been done from a liability standpoint but at the point I disclosed I was purchasing the gun in a manner prescribed by the ATF any liability would have fallen back on me so that is a moot issue.

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