Buying a Gun at Walmart
The Process of Buying a Gun at Walmart is Straightforward
After several disappointing quarters, Walmart announced plans to increase gun sales at many of their stores. Since Walmart is an affordable place to shop, I thought I'd give them a try for my recent firearms purchase. I drooled at the guncases of several North Florida Walmarts before making my purchase. By and large, the guns of Walmart are basic, reliable, shotguns and rifles that meet the needs of hunters and target shooters. Walmart does not sell handguns. The most home defense oriented rifle choice available was a Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle. However, I was shopping for a .22 rifle and was pleased to see that my Walmart had the venerable Marlin Model 60, a camouflaged Remington Model 597, a bolt action Savage .22, the New England Firearms .22/shotgun combo, the Mossberg Plinkster with synthetic stock, and the Henry Lever-Action .22. Since I didn't have a lever-action .22, I opted for the Henry. It was a nice-looking little rifle that is made in the United States.
The Walmart sports department customer service representative took the rifle out of the case so that I could look it over. I had previously read good things about the Henry so I just quickly examined the rifle for any obvious damage or blemished. A trigger lock kept the firearm secure for the entire time that I reviewed it for blemishes and damage. The next step was to provide my identification and fill out federal background check paperwork. It's a fairly long and arcane form that is completed by the buyer and the gunshop. Basically, the form provides the information required to perform the "instant background check" and ensures that the buyer attests to not being a felon, a mental patient, or under a restraining order for domestic violence. One innovation that Walmart has brought to the system is computerization of the form. The clerks computer is on a swivel and he can simple turn it to the customer for completion of the buyer questionaire. I really liked filling out the form online via this process. It saves time and ensures that the form is legible. When the customer has completed the form, the clerk can print out the form and call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to get the background check and approval.
Once a purchase is approved, a Walmart manager approves the sale, the purchase is rung up, and the firearm is boxed up and taped shut. Along the way, the cash register prompts the sales clerk with a couple of redundant questions to ensure that the buyer is an adult. Once my transaction was complete, the manager walked me directly out of the store carrying the firearm for me. The entire transaction including the walk in and out of the store took about 25 to 35 minutes which seems about average for a firearms purchase. The team at my local Walmart was thorough, methodical, and made sure that they filled out all the paper work properly. Best of all, they didn't announce over the PA System that a gun sale was occurring like they did a decade or so ago when my wife bought her Magtech Model 7022 (now Mossberg Plinkster) at Walmart.
While the Walmart decision to increase gun sales has caused a backlash in areas where community leaders and headline-hungry politicians don't trust their constituents, in rural North Florida, firearms are part of life. The woods and swamps here contain bear, boar, alligators, and a few bad people. I think most people will welcome the opportunity to get good prices on reliable firearms for hunting, target shooting, and home defense.
Overall, my local Walmart did a good job of handling the firearm sale considering that they don't do the gun sales volume of dedicated gunshops.
The Walmart sports department customer service representative took the rifle out of the case so that I could look it over. I had previously read good things about the Henry so I just quickly examined the rifle for any obvious damage or blemished. A trigger lock kept the firearm secure for the entire time that I reviewed it for blemishes and damage. The next step was to provide my identification and fill out federal background check paperwork. It's a fairly long and arcane form that is completed by the buyer and the gunshop. Basically, the form provides the information required to perform the "instant background check" and ensures that the buyer attests to not being a felon, a mental patient, or under a restraining order for domestic violence. One innovation that Walmart has brought to the system is computerization of the form. The clerks computer is on a swivel and he can simple turn it to the customer for completion of the buyer questionaire. I really liked filling out the form online via this process. It saves time and ensures that the form is legible. When the customer has completed the form, the clerk can print out the form and call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to get the background check and approval.
Once a purchase is approved, a Walmart manager approves the sale, the purchase is rung up, and the firearm is boxed up and taped shut. Along the way, the cash register prompts the sales clerk with a couple of redundant questions to ensure that the buyer is an adult. Once my transaction was complete, the manager walked me directly out of the store carrying the firearm for me. The entire transaction including the walk in and out of the store took about 25 to 35 minutes which seems about average for a firearms purchase. The team at my local Walmart was thorough, methodical, and made sure that they filled out all the paper work properly. Best of all, they didn't announce over the PA System that a gun sale was occurring like they did a decade or so ago when my wife bought her Magtech Model 7022 (now Mossberg Plinkster) at Walmart.
While the Walmart decision to increase gun sales has caused a backlash in areas where community leaders and headline-hungry politicians don't trust their constituents, in rural North Florida, firearms are part of life. The woods and swamps here contain bear, boar, alligators, and a few bad people. I think most people will welcome the opportunity to get good prices on reliable firearms for hunting, target shooting, and home defense.
Overall, my local Walmart did a good job of handling the firearm sale considering that they don't do the gun sales volume of dedicated gunshops.
Sources:
George Anderson. "Walmart Goes Back to the Future with Fabrics, Fishing, and Firearms," Forbes, May 3, 2011.
http://blogs.forbes.com/retailwire/2011/05/03/walmart-goes-back-to-the-future-with-fabrics-fishing-and-firearms/
Daniel Massey. "Foes Open Fire on Walmart's Gun Sales," Crain's New York Business.com, April 28, 2011.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110428/FREE/110429851
Other Articles By This Contributor:
Choosing Your First .22 Caliber Rifle: Part 1 of 3
Choosing Your First .22 Caliber Rifle: Part 2 of 3
Choosing Your First .22 Caliber Rifle: Other Features to Consider (Part 3 of 3)
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION:
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
The Contributor has no connection to nor was paid by the brand or product described in this content.
Published by L. Spain
I enjoy sharing my experiences through writing. If you find an article useful, feel free to pass on the link to your friends. I ve lived in Virginia, Florida, Maine, Georgia, Missouri, and more. Over the... View profile
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1 Comments
Post a CommentThe clerks computer is on a swivel and he can simple turn it to the customer for completion of the buyer questionaire. I really liked filling out the form online via this process. It saves time and ensures that the form is legible. When the customer has completed the form, the clerk can print out the form and call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms to get the background check and approval.
All well and good...My question is, what happens to all the info you typed (so convienyently) into the"clerks computer" ?????