Dick's Sporting Goods

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CLOSED NOW - Opens at 9:00am

I was just in this store today to make my first firearm purchase. My dad went with me, since he is more knowledgeable than I when it comes to firearms. We were met by a gentleman who was very pleasant and very knowledgeable about firearms. I set my eyes on a 10/22 Ruger rifle. He was unable to complete the sale so he called his manager to complete the sale. The manager and another gentleman came to the counter. The manager took my FOID card in the back and the other gentleman stayed at the counter with me, my dad, and the guy who we spoke to in the beginning. Based on the conversation that we had with the guy who came with the manager... He had no clue about firearms and also almost dropped the rifle out of the display case and banged it around in it's place. He asked me which rifle was I going to purchase and what was I going to do with it. I told him exactly my reason, that I have grown up around guns my whole life and never fired them, and I wanted to learn and begin target practicing, and that I eventually would like to go hunting. Most of the conversation was the guys both talking to my dad about guns, shooting ranges and what kind of guns he has handled. After about 20 or 30 mins, The manager comes back to tell me he is denying my purchase based on the conversation they had with my dad. That he was answering all the questions and I didn't answer any! They said that they believe that I was making a purchase for someone else. So they basically accused me of being a straw purchaser!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now my question is.... who would purchase a .22 rifle to use it unlawfully?! Straw purchasers buy handguns that are easy to transport and conceal. Has anyone ever heard of a crime being committed with a .22 rifle?! I probably had more knowledge about firearms then both the manager and the guy who accompanied him put together! Then when I had argued that if it was because I was a woman and that if they thought it was because I was purchasing the rifle for my dad I told them that he has a FOID card and my dad pulled it out and showed them. Then they were apologetic and said that I could make the purchase. But I was so HIGHLY offended because they were FLAT OUT ACCUSING me of committing a crime, so, I put the paperwork down and me and my dad walked out and told them they just lost a sale. MORONS! I will NEVER set foot in Dicks sporting good again! Cabelas is a little further but way worth it! And on top of it all... there was an arab guy who came in and purchased 1,000 .22LR blazer rounds and the the guy behind the counter had made the comment that he was going through them really fast and what was he doing with them? none the less he made his purchase without hesitation.

Further more it is not their job to grill me on a purchase, they only need to call Illinois State Police to confirm that I can purchase firearms!