What's with stores asking for caliber card when buying pistol ammo?

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Catskillkid

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Back when I was shopping at Dicks I remember asking for .38 Special. The dupe behind the desk almost didn't let me buy it because I only have .357 Mag revolvers and hence didn't see any .38 Special on the back of my cards (Yes I'm one of those overachievers who has two cards :)). Not saying you have to know everything about guns to work behind a gun counter but some common knowledge would help. Another reason I'm happy to see Dick's go under.

Walmart has always asked to see my permit. I always assumed it was a store policy. When Gander Mountain in Middletown first opened back in the day the girl behind the counter asked me very incredulously "why are you buying so many bullets?" Mind you I only had two hundred rounds of 9mm sitting on the table, barely a range session for many. Told her to piss off and mind her own business and check me out. She did with a scowl on her face the whole time. Probably thought I was going to be a mass shooter what with two boxes of 100 count Winchester target rounds. They must've gotten complaints because it never happened again. Gander Outdoors has never questioned me. Neither has any local FFL that I've been to.

I'm pretty sure it's just dumb-ass corporate policies at the big box stores. Probably some lawyer who knows nothing about guns thought it up thinking it would reduce liability.
 
innkeeper

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Their policy has some basis in state law. The law says you need a permit to buy pistol ONLY ammo. Which is only a few select calibers. .32 .25 .380 and it used to be .357 SIG. but now a few companies are making .357 SIG carbines. Bass Pro in Auburn used to keep those calibers behind the counter while everything else was out on shelves. Always had to wait for a sales guy to get .357 SIG.
 
Criticalt

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Calculon said:
I had this chat with the guy at Walmart a while back. I told him no and asked him to call his manager. She came out and tore him a new one for making up a bullshit rule. Told him to sell me whatever I want. Last time I went in, he asked me again FFS! smh

Can’t fix stupid.
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This was my experience at Walmart too.
I once asked to see the manager.
The manager said this is NOT Walmart policy and told the employee to sell without asking.
 
Marine Cpl

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innkeeper said:
Their policy has some basis in state law. The law says you need a permit to buy pistol ONLY ammo. Which is only a few select calibers. .32 .25 .380 and it used to be .357 SIG. but now a few companies are making .357 SIG carbines. Bass Pro in Auburn used to keep those calibers behind the counter while everything else was out on shelves. Always had to wait for a sales guy to get .357 SIG.
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They can scratch .380 acp and put it back on the shelf. Hipoint makes a .380 carbine.
 
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Blimey

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BMF JK said:
Last time I bought 9mm at Walmart the kid started typing in my permit number . I grabbed my permit and asked him what are you doing. He stated he needed to enter my permit number, i said ahhhh no thanks and walked out ! Anyone have this happen? This was about 2 months ago .
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Are you sure? I know they type in your birth date. I am surprised they would even have a box for permit #.

Anyway, I went into a different Walmart this evening and asked for three boxes of 9mm. Guy asked for permit, gave it to him, he looked at the back and realized the permit has a separate card for my guns. Asked for that one. I said I don’t have it but this is for a carbine anyway. He said they aren’t supposed to do it but he rang me up anyway.

Funny thing is I have bought 380 from this very same guy within the last month and he only wanted my permit that time, not the one with the guns.
 
Blimey

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innkeeper said:
Their policy has some basis in state law. The law says you need a permit to buy pistol ONLY ammo. Which is only a few select calibers. .32 .25 .380 and it used to be .357 SIG. but now a few companies are making .357 SIG carbines. Bass Pro in Auburn used to keep those calibers behind the counter while everything else was out on shelves. Always had to wait for a sales guy to get .357 SIG.
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Do you know which part of the penal code addresses this? I can’t readily find it.
 
BMF JK

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Blimey said:
Are you sure? I know they type in your birth date. I am surprised they would even have a box for permit #.

Anyway, I went into a different Walmart this evening and asked for three boxes of 9mm. Guy asked for permit, gave it to him, he looked at the back and realized the permit has a separate card for my guns. Asked for that one. I said I don’t have it but this is for a carbine anyway. He said they aren’t supposed to do it but he rang me up anyway.

Funny thing is I have bought 380 from this very same guy within the last month and he only wanted my permit that time, not the one with the guns.
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That’s what he told me . Possible he was busting my balls , either way I walked away .
 
Justincase

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stokes said:
My license has 5 guns listed on the back,any more than 5 and you get a second card,my second card has 2 on it now.Never heard it called a "caliber card"
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Erie county permits fit 13 on each side... Or so I've heard.;)
 
BDinPutnam

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Blimey said:
Caliber card may be incorrect terminology but yeah in this area we have two separate cards. I may try and buy some 9mm and tell them it's for a carbine and see what they say :)
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I've done it, they're "Dicks" about it. I didn't even have a pistol at the time (which was the POINT)- "it's for a rifle" "I can't sell it to you." "Not your fault. Eat a dicks").
 
innkeeper

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Blimey said:
Do you know which part of the penal code addresses this? I can’t readily find it.
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NY State Penal Law Article 270:

4. Sales of ammunition not prohibited. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent, or interfere in any way with, the sale of ammunition for revolvers or pistols of any kind, or for rifles, shot guns, or other arms, belonging or which may belong to any persons whether as sporting or hunting weapons or for the purpose of protection to them in their homes, or, as they may go abroad; and manufacturers are authorized to continue to manufacture, and wholesalers and dealers to continue to deal in and freely to sell ammunition to all such persons for such purposes.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section, it shall be unlawful for any dealer in firearms to sell any ammunition designed exclusively for use in a pistol or revolver to any person, not authorized to possess a pistol or revolver. The violation of this section shall constitute a class B misdemeanor.
 
Criticalt

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innkeeper said:
NY State Penal Law Article 270:

4. Sales of ammunition not prohibited. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent, or interfere in any way with, the sale of ammunition for revolvers or pistols of any kind, or for rifles, shot guns, or other arms, belonging or which may belong to any persons whether as sporting or hunting weapons or for the purpose of protection to them in their homes, or, as they may go abroad; and manufacturers are authorized to continue to manufacture, and wholesalers and dealers to continue to deal in and freely to sell ammunition to all such persons for such purposes.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section, it shall be unlawful for any dealer in firearms to sell any ammunition designed exclusively for use in a pistol or revolver to any person, not authorized to possess a pistol or revolver. The violation of this section shall constitute a class B misdemeanor.
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The key here is EXCLUSIVELY.....
The dealer can only ask for a permit for a caliber which can be fired exclusively from a pistol.
So, asking for a permit for 9mm is not in the law. A Walmart employees ignorance should not be our issue.
 
togmaster

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Saltwater60 said:
How are we handling this now with the new tax law in place. I’ve been afraid to buy anything wondering if there is some report filed.
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Simple. They don't charge tax and you don't pay it. It's up to the vendor to deal with. There are lots of companies I buy from on line that don't collect sales tax.
 
Blimey

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Criticalt said:
The key here is EXCLUSIVELY.....
The dealer can only ask for a permit for a caliber which can be fired exclusively from a pistol.
So, asking for a permit for 9mm is not in the law. A Walmart employees ignorance should not be our issue.
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Agree. Unless maybe 9mm was originally designed exclusively for use, regardless of what it is used for now? I mean, it was designed for a pistol when it was made. But now it's obviously not used only in pistols. A bit of a blur depending on how silly a prosecutor wants to get, maybe.

Nonetheless, that makes it painfully evident that there is nothing in the law whatsoever that says a person with a pistol permit cannot buy ammo for a caliber they don't own. That is pure fabrication by these places.
 
CaseHardened

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thegatman said:
Just wait. Pretty soon you will need a background check to buy ammo.
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In Mass you need a License To Carry to buy Ammo, but you can buy any caliber you wish to. No firearms listed on card.

Also, no one but Mass LTC Holders can buy Ammo in Mass.

So don't try to stock up here (it would not be cheap, anyways).
 
Cooolone

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I don't understand...

If you buy from companies that enforce policy over "law" then you are an enabler... You feed the trolls!

I stopped buying even from online retailers who wouldn't go the extra step to understand that NY does not have the database operational yet. To no avail, so I spend my hard earned money where it belongs, with those who understand and know what the law allows and doesn't put gun owners through any additional hoops to jump through just because they can!

Fuck Dick's, Walmart and any others who pull this shit.

/end rant
carry on...
 
Gonzobird

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So on my way back from the range today I stopped to get a few things at Walmart as it will snow for the next week here. Not looking to leave the house. Decided to replace the ammo i shot at the range.

It actually happened. First time I was asked for the Weapons Identification card. Keep in mind as stated earlier in this thread last time I was there they had some issue. I wonder if they are checking the calipers now.

Funny as well as I was at the Gander outdoors yesterday and bought pistol ammo and all I was asked for was my birth date.
 
2WheelGnnr

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BMF JK said:
Last time I bought 9mm at Walmart the kid started typing in my permit number . I grabbed my permit and asked him what are you doing. He stated he needed to enter my permit number, i said ahhhh no thanks and walked out ! Anyone have this happen? This was about 2 months ago .
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NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN just look at it and hand back..I woulda done the same!! JEEZ..........
 
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