Newbie w/ gun shipping questions for Howard County

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  • leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Hello All, I am a newbie here and to guns in general. I have a question regarding shipping laws in Howard County/Ellicott City.

    I have never purchased a gun before. I went online to buy an air rifle from Bass Pro and checked the box to have the rifle shipped to the store so I could pick it up there (they did not have the rifle I wanted in stock at the Hanover store). I wanted to be able to have some input and also be covered by their return policy. After the automatic reply thanking me for my purchase, I received an email from Bass Pro recinding the order and refunding my credit card because they would not ship to "my" zip code. What?? I had asked them to ship to the store. I was very surprised (because I am very ignorant :-)) and called them to try to figure out what was wrong. The rep I talked to said they would not let me order online, even though it was being shipped to the store, because the billing address was flagged because of my zip code, therefore I could not purchase the rifle online. She could tell me nothing more than that. Long story short, by the time I called the (Hanover) store again, they had gotten this rifle back in stock and so I purchased it at the store (using my credit card). I told the story to guys behind the counter and they all were scratching their heads. Unfortunately, I will be returning the rifle since #1, it is way too loud for this neighborhood and #2, cocking effort is a little too much for me.

    I have been reading and learning a little in the meanwhile and found a rifle that may be more appropriate for me and can ONLY purchase online from Pyramid Air. I see that it is stated that it is my responsiblity to know the shipping laws and had I not had that experience with Bass Pro, I would never have considered that there is an issue.

    Can anyone direct me to a source of information about firearm shipping laws in Ho Co or Ellicott City? I have searched online using every term I can think of and not finding anything. I don't want to order anything again and be refused or denied shipping, don't want to break any laws, but how can I purchase the rifle I want if it is only available online?

    Thanks so much for any direction/advice anyone might offer.
     

    Reptile

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 29, 2014
    7,282
    Columbia MD
    Howard County passed an ordinance back in 2009 that included air rifles as guns, which prohibited the shooting of guns virtually anywhere in the county except at a range. Just living in the county wouldn't prohibit you from owning an air rifle. I would call Pyramid before ordering to see if saner heads prevail there.
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Thanks Reptile, From what I have been able to find out, it is lawful for a property owner to shoot on their own property (pest control, basement plinking) but I am still confused about the shipping restriction I encountered. I certainly will contact Pyramid though I wanted to do so when I had better knowledge. From their site, I get the idea that they won't be telling me what my local municipality requires, (not their responsibility, it is mine) and so I would need to understand all this before I give them a shipping address.
     

    rascal

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 15, 2013
    1,253
    Liquor stores, bars, gun sellers just like any other business where there are licenses, and therefore entire businesses at risk, can often have rules that are well beyond the legal requirements.

    some go way over the top and are famous for it. Bass pro will not let me touch the unloaded guns their store even though I have several concealed carry permits, registrations, NRA RSO whatever. Any other seller in Md will. Palmetto State Armory will not ship gun cleaning brushes to my zip code.

    You are not going to "explain" to a clerk, or a low level manager, or a csr on the phone how their corporate policy is "wrong." Just go elsewhere.
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Yes! Which is why, in my ignorance, I need t be assured I could. I spoke with them many times before I purchased.
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Hi danb, Thanks so much for that info....are you in Ellicott City? Yes, maybe a Bass Pro thing but this being my first experience, I am just trying to be pro-active and avoid problems....
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Yes, the gun was cocked and fired a few times which was the only way I knew if it would not work for me.
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    That is the puzzle. Just trying to chase down the particulars. My "Particular" Zip was flagged. Bass Pro is a big outfit ...they ought to know why they would need to protect themselves, but the folks I spoke to could not say why I was flagged in their system and I would love to know the reasons they flagged my (simple) billing zip.
     

    danb

    dont be a dumbass
    Feb 24, 2013
    22,704
    google is your friend, I am not.
    That is the puzzle. Just trying to chase down the particulars. My "Particular" Zip was flagged. Bass Pro is a big outfit ...they ought to know why they would need to protect themselves, but the folks I spoke to could not say why I was flagged in their system and I would love to know the reasons they flagged my (simple) billing zip.

    Good luck with that. It retail. they barely know the products let alone why corporate does things. corporate probably does not know why corporate does things.
     

    Blacksmith101

    Grumpy Old Man
    Jun 22, 2012
    22,154
    Hello All, I am a newbie here and to guns in general. I have a question regarding shipping laws in Howard County/Ellicott City.

    Thanks so much for any direction/advice anyone might offer.

    Plenty of good answers to your question so just let me add WELCOME to the shooting community. You will get a lot more welcomes if you post an introduction message in the Introductions section:
    https://www.mdshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?f=119

    Introduce yourself age, general area you are located,and share your shooting interests and you will get lots of help.

    Since you inquired about air rifles have you visited our Air Guns section:
    https://www.mdshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155

    Depending on your interest you may want to check out:
    Competitive Shooting
    Recreational Shooting
    Outdoor Sports
    etc.


    Under Recreational shooting you will find a thread that lists all the shooting ranges and most gun stores in the state and surrounding areas (click on the links in the first post):
    https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=38816

    And Ill kick in one of my favorite resources for new shooters the CMP and a couple of links that will help you get started on the right foot:
    http://thecmp.org/communications/gary_otm/

    http://thecmp.org/training-tech/coaching-resources/
     

    DubTap21

    Active Member
    Jan 27, 2013
    551
    Silver Spring
    Go back to Hanover Bass Pro and have them order the air rifle that you want, or just don't deal with Bass Pro at all. It is ascinine they won't ship to their own store!!

    Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Plenty of good answers to your question so just let me add WELCOME to the shooting community. You will get a lot more welcomes if you post an introduction message in the Introductions section:
    https://www.mdshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?f=119

    Introduce yourself age, general area you are located,and share your shooting interests and you will get lots of help.

    Since you inquired about air rifles have you visited our Air Guns section:
    https://www.mdshooters.com/forumdisplay.php?f=155

    Depending on your interest you may want to check out:
    Competitive Shooting
    Recreational Shooting
    Outdoor Sports
    etc.


    Under Recreational shooting you will find a thread that lists all the shooting ranges and most gun stores in the state and surrounding areas (click on the links in the first post):
    https://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=38816

    And Ill kick in one of my favorite resources for new shooters the CMP and a couple of links that will help you get started on the right foot:
    http://thecmp.org/communications/gary_otm/

    http://thecmp.org/training-tech/coaching-resources/
    Hi Blacksmith101, I appreciate all the info and the warm welcome. Thanks for good advice.
     

    leviu

    Member
    Feb 22, 2018
    11
    Go back to Hanover Bass Pro and have them order the air rifle that you want, or just don't deal with Bass Pro at all. It is ascinine they won't ship to their own store!!

    Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk
    Yep, think I am done there. It has been disappointing and frustrating. I am going to give Pyramid a call.
     

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