Do any gun stores you know do this?

[Robert28]

I saw a sign at my local ACE hardware at the gun counter today that said “no cell phone pics”. I asked the guy behind the counter what it meant and he said people were doing straw purchases that way nowadays, someone goes in and takes pics of the inventory with their cell phone and sends the pics to the criminal and they tell them what to buy for them. They’ve even had pics if their inventory be sent to guys IN prison who had cell phones smuggled in. Apparently it’s becoming a thing because he said a lot of stores were following this new rule now.

 

[Jester896]

my LGS just asks them to look right here...that way his video system can the the best image of them...right before he tells them to stop videoing or taking picture.

 

[FlipKing]

I'd be a little turned off by it. If I want to send a pic to my buddy then I will.

 

[Pig Predator]

So the lgs don't have a website with upcoming and up to date inventory pictures?

 

[Jester896]

I'd be a little turned off by it. If I want to send a pic to my buddy then I will.

that is a little different on our LGS. Taking a pic and send one pic is different than videoing the entire store...then 3 days later there is a break in or an attempt to do so.

 

[FlipKing]

Understandable. At most I'm sending a pic go my buddy of a cool sbr or maybe a nice 2011. Not the whole store.

 

[whitetailfreak]

Taking photos and or video of a firearm is a text book red flag for a straw purchase. The ATF doesn't play these days and when you are the Responsible Party of your ffl you protect it at all costs.

 

[GunnSmokeer]

Taking Photos of a gun that you're considering buying as a gift for somebody else may be a good idea if it's not a surprise gift and you want to get that gift recipient's approval. To be sure that they like the look of this gun before you commit to purchasing it.

GIFTING a gun you just purchased is legal. ATF and everybody who knows federal law says so. (It is not a straw purchase to Buy a gun that you've already decided to immediately give away as a gift, if it is a true gift and the recipient is not going to pay for it or otherwise compensate you for it.)

 

[GunnSmokeer]

If I Gift a Gun for the Holidays, Can I go to Jail? - U.S. LawShield

A gun or firearm makes a great gift, but you may have to jump through some legal hoops. Watch as Independent Program Attorney Emily Taylor explains.

www.uslawshield.com

QOUTE:
"As long as the recipient is lawfully allowed to possess a firearm, ATF and the US Supreme Court have repeatedly stated that guns may be purchased and given as gifts. The ATF even explains this process on their firearms transaction record (also known as a form 4473), specifically in question 11a. The form explains that a firearm purchased legitimately as a bona fide gift to a third person does not violate the law."

 

[sleepr71]

As long as there are means to covertly pay for “goods”..there will be Straw Purchases

 

[krizia829]

As a former firearm sales associate, I can say it would likely be to avoid straw purchases. Lots of women, for example, go to buy a gun, pretend they are new to shooting and look at a few before landing on the actual gun they intend to buy for someone else that can't. We can tell right away when something isn't right. I had to turn down a few straw purchases myself.

I had a teacher once who got denied her background check for whatever reason. Was there with her parents. About 2 hours later, I see her dad at the counter getting ready to buy the same gun. I had to alert my co-worker who had no idea and they had to deny the sale. A TEACHER!!

Also, I worked at Bass Pro where we were connected to the mall. LOTS of tourists from countries where firearms are forbidden so people would take photos all the time whether holding them, or just behind the counter on the racks. AR's are a hit still to this day lol

Many customers would FaceTime family in other countries showing the guns as well. BUT, in my opinion, I think it's a Miami thing. I doubt they do that out in the country or in any place in GA in general..

 

[specialk]

people walk around 24hrs a day with their phones on speaker or face timing, never bringing the phone to the ear....you cant tell if they are taking pics or not....

 

[BeerThirty]

Meh, it wouldn't bother me that much. I rarely buy firearms at brick-n-mortar stores anyway these days. But the business owner has every right to make this request and I support that.

 

[rosewood]

I take pics, then send to friend so he can come and buy itself if he wants. Never had anyone question me.

Rosewood

 

[fauxferret]

I think it really matters more on the stores location. Being in a college town we don't mind it too much. The red flags for us are those with ear buds in or facetiming. We have cameras both obvious and covert for these very purposes. Chances are for the one camera you're avoiding we got you on several others and likely the vehicle you came in. We've had several attempts but weathered them well. I think FFLs need to consider their physical security more than anything else. Simple details can get you in a sling real quick. The biggest problem we have is people smoking before coming into the store. We promptly tell them to leave, they don't even try to hide it.

 

[JR924]

Why not just write down info on the gun and pull up an internet picture to send or look at it. Takes a little more time. That is what I do.

 

[Robert28]

Update: remember the store I made this thread about? They got robbed Wednesday night. 4 men broke into the place and made off with 20 “long guns” according to the police. From the pics they posted it was a group of thugs. Guess they knew what they were doing with this rule but it still didn’t save them. The thieves knew exactly where to go and get what they wanted, so the place had been scoped out before I’m guessing