Posted on 07/03/2014 3:45:24 AM PDT by Cheeks
************************************************************** 3. If you like being insulted, do we have a Virginia gun store for you! **************************************************************
A VCDL member brought to our attention a “No loaded guns” sign on the door of Absolute Outdoors in New Kent. EM Ed Levine sent them an email to confirm that policy.
First, let me say that many gun stores have a “no loaded guns” policy. That’s because, unlike pretty much any other public place around, people are actually drawing guns and handling them in a gun store. That said, many stores have a better policy of saying that a person can have a holstered, loaded handgun as long as the gun never leaves the holster while the owner is in the store.
So, if the “no loaded guns” was indeed Absolute Outdoors's policy, it wouldn’t be the best policy, but it wouldn’t be uncommon for such a business.
However, the response Ed got back was, well, unbelievable and uncalled for.
We report, you decide.
Here is Ed’s email to Absolute Outdoors:
On Jun 30, 2014 10:04 AM, wrote:
Hi -
Someone told me that you guys have a sign on your door that prohibits the lawful carry of firearms by customers (unless they are law enforcement). [PVC: Here I will note that Ed should have said “...the lawful carry of a LOADED firearm by customers…” However, this would have been a good opportunity for the gun store to set the record straight.]
I just wanted to confirm that before I put the word out to 30,000 Virginia gun owners.
Thanks,
Ed Levine Founder - Virginia Open Carry Executive Member - Virginia Citizens Defense League NRA - Life member and Instructor GOA - member
—
The response back to Ed:
In a message dated 6/30/2014 11:16:22 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, abowarehouse@gmail.com writes:
You need to add to your list of titles:
Loser Idiot In desperate need of a life life long member of the tiny dick club Just plain stupid
Now that better describes you.
Rick Baker, owner
I'm usually there everyday so you should drop by and see me little man.
—
Sounds like Sarah Brady wrote that clever response to Ed. Ed was in the Marines, so I’m not so sure that the “little man” thing fits him very well. ;-)
There are lots of gun stores out there and I know that I, for one, won’t be headed to Absolute Outdoors anytime soon. I’ll be spending my money with gun dealers that treat gun owners in a friendly and respectful manner. There are plenty of them out there.
------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** VA-ALERT is a project of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.
VCDL web page: http://www.vcdl.org [http://www.vcdl.org/]
What an unbelievable response from the store owner.
Is it Absolute Outdoors, or is it Absolutely Outdoors?
Absolutely Outdoors of New Kent, VA is the only store like that I could find on a search.
It makes a big difference because they are one of the Vendors for Cheaper Than Dirt, as listed on its site.
One might send CTD a copy of the story and advise them of their vendor’s anti-Second Amendment attitude.
Independent business owners can some times be way to independent for their own good.
My brother and I walked into a small gun shop looking for a used deer rifle.
As we were checking out the used rack and picked up one to look at the owner sharply said if your not buying don’t handle.
We looked at each other and walked out and never went back.
He went out of business a couple years later.
It appears to be the same one you mentioned, so I guess it’s actually “Absolutely Outdoors.” The owner Rick Baker is mentioned in the alert and on CTD’s website.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ffldealers/FFLDealerDetails.aspx?sid=115261
I looked up VCDL’s contact for its President and emailed him with a slight suggestion about what CTD might do if they were, say e-bombed, by a deluge of emails from their members regarding Absolutely Outdoors.
See post below yours
I had a similar experience in a local gun shop. Haven’t been back.
I was interested in a make and model but they didn’t have it, suggested my choice was bad/dumb and that I should buy a similar model that they did have.
Walked out and got what I wanted somewhere else.
There is a large place around here that treats lookers like they would a fly buzzing around. Try and get one to help and they get all crappy. Ask a question and they look at you like you are a moron.
Everyone I know who went there were treated the same.
Don’t know what it is about some gun shops. I have been in storess all over Virginia, some are friendly and some treat their customers as a nuisance. I have a store literally around the corner, but after being greeted with “Hi a—hole” and “wtf do you want?” enough times I now drive 30 miles to Winchester to a store that is a pleasure to visit. I especially liked (sarc) the hand written signs the owner taped around his shop saying that if you served and wanted to tell war stories get the fu** out” and “got a problem with your gun, call the factory” etc.
The best gun store I’ve found in VA is Virginia Arms, in Manassas. The guys there are very knowledgeable, and super friendly.
Would you care to name that store? Lots of folks in that part of VA/WV might like to know ...
Had almost the same thing happen to me when a good friend wanted me to check out some rifles he was looking at. The first was a .303 Mk.III that had parts missing and a very poor bore. The second was a Remington bolt with a bad trigger and sear in it. The owner said don’t play with the guns unless your taking it home with you. I asked if he planed on having a gunsmith fix them if I wanted one of them. We were asked to get the f-— out of his shop and never come back.
Whether it’s guns, pizzas, booze, or used cars, it’s still a retail business and to be successful the owner has to know and cater to his customer base. Only your dear old mother could tell you “Eat what’s on your plate, that’s what we’re having tonight” because you weren’t paying her to cook and serve you. Sounds like these guys just don’t get it.
I won’t be a gun from this guy... Thanks....for informing us...
I was in a gun shop in the foothills of Yuma no longer in business and the owner and his Dad were discussing a luger pistol.
It had some broken part and the owner said instead of fixing it just put back together and we well sell it at the next gun show.
Not the type of people I would do business with.
I don’t know either. I had a girl who wanted to look at pistols and she asked me about that place I mentioned. I waved her off and went to a cool place where they talked to her like a adult instead of a 5 year old.
Its like the “soup Nazi” bit. Some people must like being treated like dirt. If I am going to plunk down a huge chunk of cash on a firearm, please treat me like a human being.
There seems to be a certain percentage of gun shop owners who are self employed because there’s no way they could work for anyone else.
I won’t name the unfriendly store other than to say it’s in Loudoun County, but the store I go to is Olde Towne Armory in Winchester. I collect older S&Ws and have them shipped there. Greg charges a very reasonable $20 for the transfer, much less than most. I understand that dealing with the public is stressful, especially the gun folks. So many experts....But if you make the decision to own a retail store, you have to know that your reputation is everything. And A bad one travels much faster and farther than a good one.
Thank you ... that's the one I wanted to know.
“There is a large place around here that treats lookers like they would a fly buzzing around. Try and get one to help and they get all crappy. Ask a question and they look at you like you are a moron.”
For some reason rudeness is fairly common in gun stores. I have come to expect it.
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