In a troubling incident, a store manager has left her position at a sporting goods retailer after being pressured to sell a firearm to a customer she deemed threatening. Now, she is pursuing legal action for wrongful termination.
Maria Sanchez, former manager at the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Downey, California, felt compelled to take action when a customer exhibited aggressive behavior while trying to purchase a gun. “I was just doing what anyone would do—looking out for safety,” she shared in an interview with local news. “His demeanor was very unsettling, and I felt it was necessary to report it.”
The situation escalated when the customer, who had completed the necessary paperwork shortly before closing, entered a restricted area claiming urgency. Sanchez alerted her fellow managers about his unusual conduct. When the customer returned two days later to finalize the purchase of a shotgun, his agitation grew when informed his friend could not help with the federal forms. After expressing his dissatisfaction and leaving in frustration, Sanchez discovered unused ammunition not sold by the store in the vicinity of the customer’s previous visit.
Despite her repeated concerns to management, Sanchez was instructed to proceed with the sale. “I was told to just give him the gun to avoid further issues,” she recalled. Eventually, as tensions rose during a final visit from the customer, the police intervened to de-escalate the situation. According to Sanchez, law enforcement supported her actions, yet management still forced through the sale, even offering the customer a $25 gift card for his trouble.
After dedicating a decade to the company, Sanchez sought a transfer to a different location out of fear of retaliation but was denied. Consequently, she chose to resign. In her lawsuit, she is seeking compensation for lost wages and emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of employee safety over customer satisfaction—even in the retail sector.
It’s concerning that a company wouldn’t stand by a long-term employee when safety is at stake. While the customer may have been legally entitled to purchase the gun, the erratic behavior displayed warranted a cautious approach. Let’s hope that the buyer was merely going through a rough patch and that no harm comes from the transaction.
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Summary
A sporting goods manager resigned after being forced to sell a gun to an intimidating customer, leading her to sue for wrongful termination. The incident highlights employee safety versus customer demands, and she is seeking compensation for lost wages and emotional damages.