TexasCHLforum.com

gljjt wrote:

jkurtz wrote: I guess it was then that I started speaking in a rather loud drill instructor type voice because I notice everyone at all of the other checkout counters stopped what they were doing to see what the ruckus was about. I told the young sales clerk that he was insane, misinformed or stupid and that there was no such law, I went on to ask him where the heck he thought he was – California?

We can have a problem or not when asked for personal information. We can answer the question or not. We can shop at Dick's Sporting Goods or not. But what we shouldn't do is raise our voices and take it out on a clerk being paid subsistence wages and who has zero control over policy. That is bullying behavior. That harms the cause of restoring RKBA rights. The biggest impediment to a positive view of gun rights with the public isn't Bloomberg and company. It's us when we get the negative in your face attitude with the public.

I believe you are wrongly attributing the quote to me. What you quoted was written by the OP. I am of the opinion that the OP was in the the wrong.

I would even wager that the people who have issues with Dick's (or the CC company) asking such a question have no problems with the government asking the same question and look down upon sanctuary cities that choose not to inquire about an individual's legal status.

Abraham wrote:Alright, one last parting insight I just realize when seeing this: "I'll leave it here and let you folks that are dead set being rude and obnoxious is ok..."

The individual is rude and obnoxious for objecting to intrusive questions?

Interesting perspective and to me a weak one.

The retailer is completely innocuous, gets a pass for asking intrusive questions they've no right to ask, because they are supported (without objection) by the meek...? Hey, as long as you don't object, you'll be ok, right...?

Do these type questions even vaguely remind any of you of a time gone bye...? Are you really that naive?

I don't ignore the ramifications of being questioned by those who've no right to ask certain questions they've no right to ask.

I'm not one to be meek and say: "It's no big deal, they want to help me that's why they're asking, honest.

Don't be rude, just answer the question.

Yeah, sure!

I don't believe anyone thinks the OP was rude or obnoxious for objecting to the question. Rather, people find the way he objected to it as being rude and obnoxious. While the OP may not be meek for arguing, choosing to berate what was likely a teenage kid making less than $10/hr certainly doesn't make him any sort of role model either. He could have easily expressed his displeasure by leaving quietly and contacting the general or regional manager over email.

The company has every right to ask. You have every right to object and shop elsewhere if you choose.

I do not agree with the questioning, but I certainly would not have thrown a tantrum like the OP did. He did nothing to prove he was right or morally superior. He made as all look bad. A grown man with a gun picking a fight with a retail cashier over something way beyond his control. That it certainly not the image we should strive to portray as responsible armed citizens.

mojo84 wrote: And you know that Academy's credit card processor isn't also using it for security verification? I've given Academy my zip code both ways for many years now. Haven't experienced any major negative concequences. Just being on the internet exposes people to more privacy issues than giving out a zip code.

I'll leave it here and let you folks that are dead set being rude and obnoxious is ok and productive have at it. It's been fun.

I am not arguing with you. In fact, I am in agree with you. The OP was rude and obnoxious and that behavior is not okay or productive.

As far as whether or not Academy uses zip code confirmation for security, I am not sure, but I doubt it on the basis that it can be canceled and is not required to process the transaction. I am aware of privacy concerns related to the internet, but I was not talking about privacy. I was stating that requesting the zip code at the gas pump is just a measure to make sure that the card being used is not stolen.

Teamless wrote:

mojo84 wrote:The clerk asks the zip code question, not the credit card terminal.

Simply put. WRONG
Any Academy I have gone to in the Houston, Webster, Pasadena areas. you are asked to enter the zip code ON THE CC Terminal.
I ALWAY hit "cancel" and NEVER put it in. -Why? Because I dont give my phone, email or zip UNLESS it is necessary to complete the transaction.

My local Academy also asks for the zip code on the CC terminal and often times the clerk will instruct me to enter my zip code on the terminal. For what it's worth, I just hit cancel.

mojo84 wrote:Even though some are conflating 2 different issues, do you put in your zip code when you purchase gas at a self pay gas pump when you use a credit card or do you go in and berate the clerk?

If I am not mistaken, gas pumps are not actually asking for your current zip code, rather it is looking for the zip code associated with the billing address for that card. It is usually the same, but not always. The reason for this has more to do with security by ensuring that the person using the card is authorized to do so since there is no clerk to verify ID along with the CC. When I use my debit card, it only asks for my pin.

More to the OP, you may not have been rude, but you indicated that you did cause a scene. Perception can be more important than reality. Even if you, in your opinion, were not rude, I bet many of the people that stopped to stare would think differently. In their minds, they witnessed a gun owning grown man berate (what was likely) a teenage kid. If anything, you probably reinforced the idea that ammo purchases should be vetted among those that witnessed your tantrum. Dick's has the right to ask, and you have the right to disagree with the policy, but I highly doubt your actions would make them less likely to enforce such a policy. Rather, you should have just refused to make the purchase, left the store, and addressed your concerns to someone at Dick's HQ that has the authority to influence change over such policies.