An uncle of mine used to frolic with his old rifle when I was very young, and I would watch him with interest take the gun apart once in every while; he would oil and clean the weapon. It seems like yesterday the times when I went on long drives with my uncle into the woods, where he often tried out his weapon on markers of piled tuna cans. Developing an interest in shooting sports as an adult was not farfetched. Watching highlights of previous Olympic contests in the shooting categories has made me give pursuing shooting sport a thought.
Since it would not be possible to practice shooting sports at will using borrowed gear, I had to go in search of possibilities of sourcing for a piece of personal equipment to use whenever the spare time is available from my job. After a brief consultation with acquaintances that I met at a shooting range in my state, and from online searches, getting my gear became an easy hurdle to scale.
Before running off to find reliable firearm stores, where you can buy quality, precision, and right gears; here are some things you have to put into consideration:
1.Will you be buying online or at a brick and mortar store?
The regulations that govern firearm dealers with physical premises and those that trade on the internet are similar. However, you should note that since the importation of firearms and ammunition into the US is not allowed, you can only place online orders for gears made in the US – via outlets like Walmart and Armslist. Some terms and conditions that govern transactions on online firearm stores, all in a bid to follow federal government legislation on gun control.
If you order your firearm gear online, make sure to ascertain that the online vendor has an affiliate physical store in your state of residence. This prior research will be necessary because some states in the US allow a certain caliber of firearm (like a shotgun) to sell only to residents of that state.
2.License requirements and user prohibition
The Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) for dealers and companies that manufacture gears and kits has to be obtained before opening for business. This the first pointer to look for when transacting business with any firearm dealer, and need I say, buying firearms for a private dealer is likely to prove doom. Except you are a law enforcement personnel, there is no way for you to determine the number of times firearms from a private dealer have changed hands; so, steer clear of individual deals.
3.You are your gun; keep it secure!
Even if you keep strictly to using your gun for sports alone and have an up-to-date license for it, that would not be enough excuse to let it lie around carelessly. If a criminal were to gain access to a firearm registered in your name and uses the same to inflict lethal damage, there are tendencies of your getting arrested. And if investigations should reveal that you willingly gave out firearms, that ended up being used for criminal purposes, there is a likelihood of jail time. So, long story short: be prepared to guard your shooting gear jealousy; yes, even before buying one.