by Chelsea Hoffman
Member since:
January 18, 2011

Yes, Gun Shows Should be Banned

January 07, 2013 01:55 PM UTC
6 people recommend this | comments: 19

Gun shows may be banned soon in a central Texas town (yes, Texas, of all places), and for good reason. These laid back impromptu marketplaces tend to allow criminals the ability to purchase weapons without background checks. More guns in the hands of criminals means more crimes committed with guns. And when more crimes are committed with guns it just adds to the animosity between those who support and oppose gun ownership.

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The National Gun Victims Action Council reports around 30% of criminally trafficked firearms are ultimately traced to gun shows. While 30% isn't the majority of these criminally-involved weapons, that would still be a huge number to wipe out if this informal market was eliminated and banned on a national level, not just in some random part of Texas.

Certainly the gun nuts would be opposed to laws like these, that ban unstable marketplaces such as "shows" and "circuits," but this would in no way infringe on anyone's Second Amendment rights. Guns should be purchased from credible dealers who require customers to pass criminal background checks and the sort before selling them.

Photo: Opposing Views

Chelsea Hoffman is a candidly opinionated crime analyst with a lifelong interest in criminology and activism. She also owns 'Girl Nerdology' and is the author of several fiction stories. Follow her on Twitter @TheRealChelseaH or email her privately through Chelsea Hoffman: Case to Case.

Comments: 19

Chelsea, the vast majority of those selling anything at gun shows ARE credible dealers who require customers to pass criminal background checks. All it takes is a cell phone to do so. Close the loophole for other sellers, but this is a complete over reaction by people that know nothing about what they are talking about.
Scott Flicker Jan 7, 2013, 3:17pm UTC
I agree let's close the loopholes but maintain the shows themselves. Maybe alot of these firearms purchased at shows at later stolen by thieves which are later used in crimes. The stats I've seen show only 2% of criminals actually purchase guns from shows so perhaps many are legally purchased by non criminals but somehow end up being used in crimes. Maybe the figure cited above is also including domestic violence crimes which is really should be a separate issue. Although those guilty of domestic crimes currently are banned from obtaining firearms.
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 3:02pm UTC
Except...If you ever went to a gun show, you would be amazed that there isn't a shoot out every 5 minutes...some people there that scare Jo Jo...

But...they ARE fun...
Scott Flicker Jan 8, 2013, 3:26pm UTC
Yeah u can get all kinds of crazy books and stuff.
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 5:42pm UTC
Like..."How to Build an Atomic Bomb out of Stuff You Find in your Car Trunk"
Scott is right, 2 percent is the actual number.
Amanda Ludden Jan 7, 2013, 2:58pm UTC
Oh man, Maine would not be happy if gun shows were banned. All of our hunting and taxidermy shows are very gun enthusiast involved. Retailers arent allowed to sell them at the shows though, they're more like a promotion to go into to their stores, but Maine is kinda behind the ball as far as that goes, Im sure there is going to be a point where buying on the spot will be come an option and we will have our own issues with it too.
Chris Wiegard Jan 7, 2013, 10:11pm UTC
Gun shows are about big money. They are about the re-sale market. Of course, if private gun sales were to be declared illegal, then the only way to buy a gun would be at a gun store, where you actually get your background checked. But if that happened, all existing guns would become worthless, because nobody could sell one. Unless maybe you could sell back to a store? But the store does not want to BUY your bun, it wants to SELL you a gun. No, not just one gun, it wants to sell you a dozen new guns.

The gun market and the gun culture and the NRA have all been a bit polluted by greed. Gee, what if we were to decide that we have enough guns already? Unthinkable. We only have half the guns on the planet in the USA, that's not enough.
James A. Jan 8, 2013, 9:44am UTC
If your scenario came to pass, do you think pawn stores would operate as a second-hand market for privately held guns? Would these stores take the risk of becoming semi-gun shops?
Scott Flicker Jan 8, 2013, 1:42pm UTC
Most of the guns sold at shows are from federally licensed dealers that require background checks. Some states allow private individuals to sell guns to other without check at shows but this is a small percent of the number sold.
Chris Wiegard Jan 8, 2013, 6:38pm UTC
In Virginia you can buy and sell whatever you want at a gun show, no questions asked, no background check. Mayor Bloomberg is not thrilled about this, because Virginia has a LEGAL pipeline to the criminal street in NYC.
The amount of misunderstanding here is obvious to anyone that actually knows anything about how the gun market works. Yes Pawn shops would, because they already are licensed dealers, and they buy and sell guns every day. They require background checks, just like any other licensed dealer. In addition, many of the same people that sell at gun shows are local privately owned sporting goods store owners, also licensed dealers, that require background checks, and the reason people like gun shows is that they sometimes discount prices for those shows. They buy and sell used guns every day, though, it's not a one time deal, or a way you are going to cut into gun sales, get over that.
James A. Jan 8, 2013, 9:42am UTC
There is current talk - and I stress talk - about banning gun shows in government-owned facilities in Austin and Travis County. Nothing has been finalized yet.
Rusty Butz Jan 8, 2013, 10:41am UTC
No, gun shows should not be banned. They are as American as apple pie & baseball. Fun for the whole family.
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 2:59pm UTC
Actually, I agree...ban all private sales except "occasional" sales between private parties and beef up background checks and waiting periods...

Right after you get all the guns off the street that are already illegal...start with the Southside of Chicago...(in the baddest part of town...)
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 3:04pm UTC
Here is your problem, Che...THERE ARE SO MANY GUNS IN CIRULATION, LEGAL, ILLEGAL AND IN BETWEEN that you can't make a dent in them no matter what you do...You liberals are just whistling in the wind...you might as well pass a law against climate change...Just "feel good" liberal posturing...
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 3:06pm UTC
I am going to see my gun guy now...I feel the need for more guns...
Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy Jan 8, 2013, 3:18pm UTC
Here is the problem...Gun people are rightfully suspicious of the gov't and "liberals" because you are not trustworthy...If we agree to "reasonable" gun control measures now (which will have no appreciable effect on gun violence)...you will want more, later...next it will be registration and licensing which leads, ultimately to actual or constructive confiscation*...We know the old salami game...we ain't buying it...The Second Amendment protects us from being unarmed serfs... It is a dangerous world...get past it...


*you can "own" a gun but you have to keep it at the public armory and sign it in and out...
Registration is already in the Feinstein bill, and I'm sure ol Joe will have more surprises. This ain't gonna pass.

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