Denied Purchase

[afcomm]

Went down to Quantico tactical in Quantico today. Had a new VA id card (changed address, from Alexandria to Woodbridge) with a copy of my driving record and a copy of my utility bill. According to the Virgina State Police http://www.vsp.state.va.us/flash/Self-P ... ements.swf these are acceptable forms of primary and secondary ID. However, the shop denied me, saying my ID has to be +30 days and that a utility bill doesn't count for a secondary ID. But as you can see from the training from VSP, that's not the case. As long as I have a copy of my driving record showing that my DL was issued before I had my address change, its ok. And it plainly lists "current utility bill" as an acceptable form of secondary ID. I was told that a secondary ID had to be a vehicle registration or voter card.

What gives? Just poor training/knowing the laws? Is there any recourse available? I figure its a private business and they can sell to whomever they want too I guess, but it sucks.

[allingeneral]

I would say that they have the right, as a private business, to restrict any sale that they want to restrict. However, I guess you have two options:

1) Print out the page of Virginia Code linked below, highlight the areas that are bolded in the text below and take it to them, talk to the store manager, and try to press the issue and see if they will allow it.

2) Wait 30 days and go back and make your purchase.

Here's the applicable Code section. This is not the full text, so if you choose to print it, click the link and print that page, not this post.

Virginia Code Section 18.2-308.2:2. Criminal history record information check required for the transfer of certain firearms.

To establish personal identification and residence in Virginia for purposes of this section, a dealer must require any prospective purchaser to present one photo-identification form issued by a governmental agency of the Commonwealth or by the United States Department of Defense, and other documentation of residence. Except where the photo-identification was issued by the United States Department of Defense, the other documentation of residence shall show an address identical to that shown on the photo-identification form, such as evidence of currently paid personal property tax or real estate tax, or a current (a) lease, (b) utility or telephone bill, (c) voter registration card, (d) bank check, (e) passport, (f) automobile registration, or (g) hunting or fishing license; other current identification allowed as evidence of residency by Part 178.124 of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations and ATF Ruling 2001-5;

When the photo-identification presented to a dealer by the prospective purchaser is a driver's license or other photo-identification issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, and such identification form contains a date of issue, the dealer shall not, except for a renewed driver's license or other photo-identification issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, sell or otherwise transfer a firearm to the prospective purchaser until 30 days after the date of issue of an original or duplicate driver's license unless the prospective purchaser also presents a copy of his Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles driver's record showing that the original date of issue of the driver's license was more than 30 days prior to the attempted purchase.

[afcomm]

Well I was thinking that about the DL. I know all they hear is 30 days, 30 days, even though I had the correct paperwork via law. I don't find that odd, and I could see how they could make that mistake.

However, I did find it odd that they stated explicitly that they would not take a utility bill (in this case, Washington Gas)

[mandoo4u]

What would happen to the private business if they made a mistake and
did not follow the code? Is it a heavy fine?

[zephyp]

The 30 day waiting period is for a newly issued VA ID/DL - not an address change for an existing VA ID/DL. I know, been there and done that. And a utility bill (not cell or pager) is perfectly acceptable. I'd take my business elsewhere if they refuse to follow the law.

[MrRvo]

i doubt the place will get a fine or anything like that i know at dick's we are not required to sell a gun to anyone because working there at the gun counter everyone has to have a gun number issued by the atf and state police to sell firearms, and we can as associates deny any sale if we feel uncomfortable about it, and either have the person take it up with a manager or go somewhere else, because at least there its not on dicks as far as if somethings messed up it falls back on the associate who sold it because they are the ones with the gun number, dicks just houses the guns, but the employees are the ones responsable for the sale, if anything is wrong on the paper work or id or anythings its our butts not the companys, but i dont know that every place is like that or if its just dick's way of removing some accountablity from them selves, but i also know we dont do any transfers of guns from any other ffl thats not one of our stores or a supplier of ours, no websites or anything. because we get asked all the time if we do transfers, and also why we dont sell handguns, and the handgun thing just boils down to the aspect of the tighten of the laws on them and dick's didnt want the added responsability of it. but i kno as an associate my self i wont sell if i feel anything is a miss i will either pass it to a diff. associate or a manager to handle, just because i dont want my name on it if it doesnt feel right and the most common forms of id i tell people to use is a picture id and the registration for there car or truck because people usually always have those 2 things handy.

[bossgvr4]

The 30 day waiting period is for a newly issued VA ID/DL - not an address change for an existing VA ID/DL. I know, been there and done that. And a utility bill (not cell or pager) is perfectly acceptable. I'd take my business elsewhere if they refuse to follow the law.

I would take my business elswhere if they refuse to sell to a law-abiding citizen. Virginia Arms or even Greentop.

Afterwards i would come back in and tell the manager the error of their ways and how they lost a sale ... hit 'em where it counts IN THE WALLET !