By Donovan Beard

February 24, 2025

 

I write this as a cautionary tale from my experiences on both sides of the counter. As a firearms instructor and firearms enthusiast, I have both purchased firearms from gun shops and have worked as an employee at gun shops where I was the one selling firearms. The best advice I can give to anyone in the market for purchasing a handgun or any firearm for that matter is to take your time and don’t be in a hurry to make a purchase. This is critically important especially if you are making your first purchase or are new to firearms in general.

Think of gun shops and the clerks who work there in the same way that you would think of going to a car dealership and interacting with car salesman. These are both retail businesses whose primary focus is selling you what they have in stock at the time, which may not be exactly what is the best fit for you. Remember that most car salesman are not a driving instructor and the clerks at your local gun shop more likely than not are not certified firearms instructors. They may have good advice, however any advice should be taken with a grain of salt and independently verified through research and training from qualified individuals.

Consider and treat every firearm in a gun shop as if it is loaded. When you ask to see a firearm from behind the counter make sure the person handing you the gun verifies to your satisfaction that it is unloaded and do not accept it until it has been verified as unloaded. Even after the clerk verifies the firearm is unloaded, it is good practice to visually and physically inspect the firearm yourself just to make sure it is safe, before you inspect it.

Gun shops will have customers who have a wide variety of experience handling firearms, and it is easy for people who aren’t familiar with firearms to not handle them with good situational awareness. On more than one occasion while working at gun shops, I have seen customers handling firearms without being aware of where the muzzle is pointed. A good clerk will address this issue promptly, however if this type of activity is not being addressed, it may not be a bad idea to either politely address it or leave the establishment. If you are the one handling the firearms and you want to inspect the sites, it is good practice to ask if it is safe to point in a certain direction.

Gun stores will often purchase firearms from private citizens or take firearms in on trade. If you are bringing your firearm to a gun shop to sell it, consign it, or trade it to the gun shop you should ensure the firearm is completely unloaded and transport it to the gun shop in either a hard or soft case. This becomes very important when you are traveling from the parking lot into the establishment because walking through a parking lot with a gun visibly in your hand may be perceived different than your actual intention. I usually recommend that you hand the entire case to the clerk so they can inspect it. If you don’t know how to unload it, then make sure to call the gun shop prior to visiting and ask for guidance on how they would like you to bring it in.

While working at gun shops I would often have people who are licensed or permitted to carry their firearm concealed bring their loaded firearm in the store and want to show it off. Most gun shops are ok with this, however anytime you are loading or unloading live ammunition in a firearm it increases the chances that the firearm could go off. The best practice is to inform the clerk of what you are intending on doing and ask if there is a preferred method for loading and unloading inside the store. A gun shop I worked at many years ago had a “clearing tube” next to the counter that was used specifically for that purpose.  Some shops may say “no loading or unloading firearms on the premises” in which case, follow the rules of the shop.

I generally recommend that if you are purchasing a firearm for personal protection to purchase it as a “new firearm” for a multitude of reasons. A gun shop that deals in both new and used firearms is generally not going to test fire every used firearm that comes through the door. Because of this, a new firearm will generally have a manufacturer’s warranty which would apply if your new firearm was not working correctly. Used firearms generally don’t have a warranty that extends past the original purchaser. Used firearms can usually be purchased for less than a new firearm and it is advisable to ask the clerk if they would take the firearm back or fix it if for some reason it is not working correctly before purchasing. If the clerk says all sales are final, then it may be a good idea to continue looking. If, however, the clerk says they would take it back or fix it if it doesn’t work as intended, then it may be a safe gamble. If that is the case, have them confirm this on the receipt so you have documentation.

A good resource for purchasing firearms would be a gun shop that has a shooting range. Most of these establishments have firearms you can rent and try out before you purchase. This is a good way to ensure the firearm you purchase will be a good fit for you.  In closing, be vigilant when you are at any location where people are handling firearms and trying to sell you expensive objects. Think critically on what you need verses what you want and take your time.

 

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