Can a retailer set age requirements for purchases?

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A number of retailers have set minimum age requirements for the purchase of certain firearms.
This is of course a knee-jerk PR response to the recent tragedy in Florida.
While I personally think that the time has long since passed for some sensible regulation of firearm purchases and ownership, I think that we should be looking to our elected representatives for this and not a bunch of mass-market retailers.
I wonder whether a retailer may impose its own age requirements for the purchase of any good absent the authority of law?
We'll soon know the answer, since the test cases are no doubt already being formed and the NRA will vigorously defend the rights of people to buy and own firearms without age limits set by retailers independent of any legal authority.
I personally think that these retailers are acting illegally and they already know this.
They're just making some cheap PR points using the blood of the innocent victims of a mentally ill shooter.
 
It's a business. They should be able to put whatever stipulations they like. Now, someone could perhaps sue that its discriminatory, but what is there to win in that? I guess maybe a lot if the company has deep pockets.

There's already regulations on some huffable substances like solvents and paints. Some on OTC drugs too. Certain media, etc.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
This is of course a knee-jerk PR response to the recent tragedy in Florida.


More like a reaction to the straw that broke the camel's back. It would have happened sooner or later because people are sick and tired of just ignoring the issue and letting it happen over and over forever.

As said, it's their business so they can make their own rules on sales unless it's found to be breaking some kind of "civil rights" laws.
 
Of course they can.

Some theaters only allow 17+ to buy tickets to an R-rated movie, but the MPAA ratings themselves do not have the force of law behind them

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

There's already regulations on some huffable substances like solvents and paints. Some on OTC drugs too. Certain media, etc.


This.
 
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
More like a reaction to the straw that broke the camel's back. It would have happened sooner or later because people are sick and tired of just ignoring the issue and letting it happen over and over forever.


True - something needs to be done. But these things will not do anything to find the root cause - it's not the guns but a combination of a system that failed on nearly every level, culture, and a host of other things. Sadly we will not look at the whole picture and continue to do knee-jerk reactions that will solve nothing.

Quote:
As said, it's their business so they can make their own rules on sales unless it's found to be breaking some kind of "civil rights" laws.

It will be an interesting case - the Constitution guarantees your right to bear arms, the federal and state laws say at 18 you can own them. Wonder how that will play out as it's a right guaranteed by the Constitution.
 
The power of the consumer and their wallets is very strong. A lot of corporations haven’t figured this out yet but they are learning.
 
There are laws in the States specific to many types of discrimination. Absent of any law to the contrary, "age" is a protected class.

Things that are often legally restricted: alcohol, tobacco, materials of a mature nature (porn), etc.

However, there are times when this has been done in the private sector and no one's successfully challenged it; i.e. car rental, hotel rental, etc.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
 
Originally Posted By: PimTac
The power of the consumer and their wallets is very strong. A lot of corporations haven’t figured this out yet but they are learning.

Some companies are finding the weakness in diversification of their business. Up here, some retailers are getting rid of patio furniture made by a company that also makes firearms and ammunition. I suppose if someone is adamant about being offended, they can find something to be offended about from all kinds of businesses. If a firearms company sticks to firearms and ammo, it really doesn't have to worry about offending the patio furniture crowd, either.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Yes.

Don't like it... spend your money at another business.
The answer for a question that shouldn't have to be asked.
 
Originally Posted By: itguy08
Originally Posted By: ZeeOSix
More like a reaction to the straw that broke the camel's back. It would have happened sooner or later because people are sick and tired of just ignoring the issue and letting it happen over and over forever.

True - something needs to be done. But these things will not do anything to find the root cause - it's not the guns but a combination of a system that failed on nearly every level, culture, and a host of other things. Sadly we will not look at the whole picture and continue to do knee-jerk reactions that will solve nothing.


I think people are looking at the whole picture at this point a lot more than they ever have. I agree, there is no one "root cause", but a combination of many factors involved. IMO, if something isn't done to at least try and address the issue it will just keep happening and get worse with time. Just look at the rate of frequency change over the last few years - it's a warning that something is broken with society. Laws are meant to try and steer society away from a trend of troubles. If society wasn't so messed up there wouldn't be as many laws as there are.
 
No, Congress set the age limits. Any FFL can refuse to sell a firearm, but they can't change the age. It's a Federal Law, not a suggestion. Sounds like age discrimination to me. I doubt anyone will do anything about it. It's a people problem. Guns don't pick themselves up and kill people.

99% of our population are good caring people who comply with the law. Know as voluntary compliance. It's the 1% of people. Some people enjoy killing! There is a division at the FBI who track these monsters. Every city has them, but most police departments don't track it, because of high turnover rates. Only FBI tracks statistics, via DOJ and Federal Grants!

The Wild Wild West ended after hanging outlaws. We are more civilized now, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.

For those that care. Take a moment to look at the number of people that go Missing every day. Again, police departments don't track this. Nor does the FBI. Missing Persons are someplace?



Respectfully,

Pajero!
 
I'd say yes, and if a customer doesn't like the policy they can buy somewhere else. I was always under the impression that a retailer doesn't have to sell you something if he/she doesn't want to. In the case of a firearm if questioned they could always say they didn't feel comfortable making the sale. I think that would be pretty costly to challenge, and make for an interesting case.
 
Easy just make the legal age of adulthood 21 to buy guns, VOTE, join the military, buy alcohol and smokes.
If someone isn't of the mind to own a firearm, buy a bottle of beer or a pack of smoke do they really have the maturity to vote?
 
I am really surprised at many of the responses in this thread.
First, we elect representatives at the local, state and national levels to set policies for what is and is not permissible. Our Constitution doesn't empower Walmart to make those decisions.
Second, does anyone really want to go down the road of allowing corporate entities to set public policy?
I find it hard to imagine that anyone does.
If we do need some changes in the legal basis for buying and owning firearms, and I think we do, then this should be something decided in a national debate and not by the actions of large retailers.
Retailers should play no role at all in establishing public policy in any free nation.
I don't think that retailers have any legal right to set minimum age requirements beyond those set in actual law and I suspect we'll see these backed off over the nest fortnight or so.
The NRA will not allow this sort of false assertion of legal authority to stand and these retailers are not about to face off against NRA in court and I also doubt that Walmart is going to stand firm against a national boycott by NRA members since they are a major part of Wally's target market, pun not intended.
 
If they can set an age limit for a bottle of Techron, they can set an age limit for purchase of guns and ammo.
Doesn't really matter if they legally can or not, even if it is illegal to do so, laws many times have become mere suggestions anyway.
Money walking in the opposite direction from the till of the business in question is the only chance at rectifying the situation.
 
Point me to that part of the Constitution that guarantees my right to buy a bottle of Techron.
There is no National Techron Association.
There is a National Rifle Association and while I may disagree with them on almost every point with regard to gun purchase and ownership, they are big and well funded and are not about to allow some retailer to infringe the legal rights of prospective gun purchasers.
Whether I think that gun purchase and ownership should be far more tightly regulated or not isn't an issue, although I do.
Rather, that regulation should be done under law and as interpreted under administrative code allowed by law and subject to review, not by the actions of any retailer.
 
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