I hope this is not a duplicate post, but I haven't heard anyone else with this problem.
NC resident. I got my purchase permit 7/23/2020. I (thought) I did due diligence regarding purchasing a firearm in one state from an FFL to ship to a local FFL and fill out the 4473 for the background check when I pick it up. Using the logic of purchasing online to ship to an FFL, show my permit, do the 4473, it should have been a simple transaction.
Fast forward to 8/22/2020. I went to Austin to meet up with a friend for target practice and decide what I wanted to purchase. He researched on his end. The research pointed us in the direction that you can purchase in TX and have it shipped. We went to a particular sporting goods store (not sure if I can say the name). We found what I wanted, gave the guy my ID (NC DL) since it was going to be shipped. Manager comes over and says he can't do the transaction because I don't have a TX ID. The conversation moves toward purchasing and shipping is ok online; what is the problem? One FFL to another FFL and do the background check. Well, the friend explained to me that he would have to be on the other end of the transaction. That he cannot purchase on my behalf and ship. Ok. I get that. Remember, we're speaking about transaction legalities. We weren't hiding anything. So I become aware of "The Strawman Law" which clearly is not legal. End of that line of discussion. My friend presses the issue about what is the difference between purchasing online and picking up on the other end. Store manager got "porky" about it and states "store policy". Friend doesn't let it drop and calls his friend who is an FFL, but didn't have the firearm. Mind you, no money changes hands and I didn't complete a 4473. We eventually leave because I don't want any problems.
Later that night, (Saturday) I find what I'm looking for online to ship to a dealer in Greensboro and purchase it. I drive the three and a half hours to pick it up. This was the following Wednesday. I arrive at (store) and present appropriate documents and complete the 4473. The manager comes over and asks me if I'd been in Austin (last weekend). I said yes and he asked if I was with someone. Again, yes. He tells me there are two "codes" in the computer from the previous attempt to purchase. I'm genuinely puzzled because he doesn't elaborate, but tells me I can't purchase and I'm banned from purchasing. Had I waited 30 days, it may not have been a problem.
I'm completely dumbfounded; then recall the discussion about the Strawman Law. He tells me he has to send an email. To whom? I didn't ask because I was still so speechless and couldn't wrap my head around him telling me I'll probably be permanently banned from purchasing a fire arm. I asked if I needed a lawyer. He said it wouldn't do any good. I didn't think to ask if he meant banned by (store) or by ATF, nor did I think to ask if he ran the 4473. He asked if I'd completed one in Austin. I told him no, because I didn't. I left the store and drove the 3.5 hours back.
I just was so baffled because I thought I'd done everything by the book, so I didn't understand. The guy kept telling me he had to send an email and that he had to let other shops in the area know I'd tried to purchase a firearm twice in the last week in two different states. I'm waiting the 30 days, but I'm not sure where to go from there.
I called back the next day for clarity - but still didn't ask the right questions; ie: was this reported to ATF or simply store policy and did he actually run the 4473? He did give me back my purchase permit, but that didn't indicate to me one way or the other what the outcome will be. Does (store) have the authority to report to ATF about what happened and recommend a denial?
Any advice would be appreciated.
[I don't know if this matters, but I called the FFL dealer where I took my class and asked him for the FFL # so I could ship to him]. He told me to ask store to send him an email - this was while I was in TX. Of course the transaction was not completed, so no email was sent and I haven't talked to the guy I took the CCP class with.]
NC resident. I got my purchase permit 7/23/2020. I (thought) I did due diligence regarding purchasing a firearm in one state from an FFL to ship to a local FFL and fill out the 4473 for the background check when I pick it up. Using the logic of purchasing online to ship to an FFL, show my permit, do the 4473, it should have been a simple transaction.
Fast forward to 8/22/2020. I went to Austin to meet up with a friend for target practice and decide what I wanted to purchase. He researched on his end. The research pointed us in the direction that you can purchase in TX and have it shipped. We went to a particular sporting goods store (not sure if I can say the name). We found what I wanted, gave the guy my ID (NC DL) since it was going to be shipped. Manager comes over and says he can't do the transaction because I don't have a TX ID. The conversation moves toward purchasing and shipping is ok online; what is the problem? One FFL to another FFL and do the background check. Well, the friend explained to me that he would have to be on the other end of the transaction. That he cannot purchase on my behalf and ship. Ok. I get that. Remember, we're speaking about transaction legalities. We weren't hiding anything. So I become aware of "The Strawman Law" which clearly is not legal. End of that line of discussion. My friend presses the issue about what is the difference between purchasing online and picking up on the other end. Store manager got "porky" about it and states "store policy". Friend doesn't let it drop and calls his friend who is an FFL, but didn't have the firearm. Mind you, no money changes hands and I didn't complete a 4473. We eventually leave because I don't want any problems.
Later that night, (Saturday) I find what I'm looking for online to ship to a dealer in Greensboro and purchase it. I drive the three and a half hours to pick it up. This was the following Wednesday. I arrive at (store) and present appropriate documents and complete the 4473. The manager comes over and asks me if I'd been in Austin (last weekend). I said yes and he asked if I was with someone. Again, yes. He tells me there are two "codes" in the computer from the previous attempt to purchase. I'm genuinely puzzled because he doesn't elaborate, but tells me I can't purchase and I'm banned from purchasing. Had I waited 30 days, it may not have been a problem.
I'm completely dumbfounded; then recall the discussion about the Strawman Law. He tells me he has to send an email. To whom? I didn't ask because I was still so speechless and couldn't wrap my head around him telling me I'll probably be permanently banned from purchasing a fire arm. I asked if I needed a lawyer. He said it wouldn't do any good. I didn't think to ask if he meant banned by (store) or by ATF, nor did I think to ask if he ran the 4473. He asked if I'd completed one in Austin. I told him no, because I didn't. I left the store and drove the 3.5 hours back.
I just was so baffled because I thought I'd done everything by the book, so I didn't understand. The guy kept telling me he had to send an email and that he had to let other shops in the area know I'd tried to purchase a firearm twice in the last week in two different states. I'm waiting the 30 days, but I'm not sure where to go from there.
I called back the next day for clarity - but still didn't ask the right questions; ie: was this reported to ATF or simply store policy and did he actually run the 4473? He did give me back my purchase permit, but that didn't indicate to me one way or the other what the outcome will be. Does (store) have the authority to report to ATF about what happened and recommend a denial?
Any advice would be appreciated.
[I don't know if this matters, but I called the FFL dealer where I took my class and asked him for the FFL # so I could ship to him]. He told me to ask store to send him an email - this was while I was in TX. Of course the transaction was not completed, so no email was sent and I haven't talked to the guy I took the CCP class with.]