Gun Show Promoter BOB POPE closing Gun Show Loophole

[johnharris]

[1gewehr]

I like Bob, but he is coming at this from a position of total feeling and no facts.
"This deal is a crime prevention thing that makes sure convicted felons are not buying their guns illegally that's all it is."

Convicted felons cannot buy guns legally. Every time a felon buys, steals, borrow, or makes a gun, it's illegal. And hoping that this is going to prevent criminals from acquiring firearms is not supported by any facts. It is merely typical feel-good legislation that puts further impositions on the freedoms of law-abiding citizens.

Why is it that when criminals and terrorists do something bad, the average citizen has to pay the price in a reduction of their freedom? How does that make sense?

[ProGun]

Seem ironic that now he is no longer in business he now has a problem with the so called Loophole and wants legislation that would in effect, close Gun Shows.

We are promoters of the Bill Goodman Gun & Knife Show at Nashville Fairgrounds and have done so for several decades. Based on feedback from vendors, both FFL Gun vendors and Accessories dealers, we made a business decision to fill our tables with only Licensed FFL vendors due to the fact that the show sells out many months in advance and there are only a limited number of tables. It was a business decision and had nothing to do with any so called loophole.

Most FFL vendors carry mostly new & modern firearms, which based on surveys from customers was the predominate item that they wanted to see at a gun show, verses used firearms. Based on this and feedback from FFL and Accessories dealers we made the business decision fill our tables with FFL vendors verses private individuals. In order to make a fair playing field for Licensed FFL vendors who sign contracts and pay fees for tables we instituted a policy whereby any Non-Licensed Vendors (Private Sellers-Collectors) who happen to have a occasional firearm that they want to dispose of that they would voluntarily agree to have background checks performed on all firearms sold at the show thru "House FFL's". This policy only applies only to "Table holders" and is in effect only to level the playing field of licensed FFL dealers who have a large stake in the game with inventory, overhead, stores, staff, etc. This business decision does NOT apply to customers (Private individuals-Collectors) who attend the shows.

What is commonly referred to as the gun show "loophole" is nothing but a derogatory reference to conduct that is specifically permitted under both state and federal law. Sales of firearms at gun shows are no different, in that, state and federal law both permit certain conduct and prohibit certain conduct. Thus, this "loophole" is merely conduct that is specifically permitted under all applicable law, and in order to assist their cause of changing the law, certain groups have invented a nefarious-sounding label for legal conduct. Bill Goodman's Gun & Knife shows does not take issue with any citizen's rights to free speech and to petition the government to change the law.

As set forth in the directive by the ATF "Dos and Don'ts" for Gun shows, any seller holding a federal firearms license is required to follow the exact same set of laws and regulations when doing business at a gun show that they must follow when doing business at their store -- including FBI background checks on ALL firearms transactions.

A "private party" who does not hold a federal firearms license, however, is not required by state or federal law to conduct a FBI background check when selling a firearm to another private party (Nor is it even possible for non-licensee, private parties to conduct FBI background checks, because such are only available to those holding a federal firearms license) Accordingly, non-licensed, private parties may sell firearms at gun shows in accordance with state and federal law, as long as such sales otherwise fully comply with all provisions of federal and other applicable law (i.e., they cannot transfer guns to people they know or have reason to believe are prohibited from possessing the guns such as felons, illegal aliens, mental defectives, etc.). This is the law throughout America, and it applies to all private sales regardless whether they occur at gun shows, a private residence, newspapers, or anywhere else.

Accordingly, to the extent that anyone engages in conduct as a buyer or a seller of a firearm, whether at a gun show or anywhere else, that is in any way in violation of any applicable law, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We strongly oppose any government imposed restrictions on the rights of law abiding citizens to dispose of their firearms. Any law requiring private citizens to conduct background checks will do nothing to prevent criminals from breaking other laws in a effort to illegally obtain firearms and will only affect law abiding citizens with more restrictions. Instead, we should enforce the several thousand Gun laws that are already on the books and go after criminals with harsh and severe penalties for obtaining or using firearms in a crime. The key here is not to infringe on the law abiding citizens , but rater the Criminals intent on destroying our freedoms!

[PapaB]

[David Lewis]

Re: ProGun's comments:

Hear! Hear! Well said!!!

David

[Fred762]

I agree with all of the above.

I say follow the money re the comments of Mr Pope, AND I say beware of, and be suspicious of, anybody who is out to restrict the sale or purchase of an occasional legal firearm.

There IS a motive for nearly every action a man takes: Now that he is out of the business, is he trying to stifle competition in the hopes of making a comeback? OR...Is he simply bowing to pressure from SOMEONE HIGHER UP who he owes a 'favor'..or someone 'big' who has something on him? Has he made some secret oath to someone who NOW is calling in the marker? One wonders.

Even FBI stats show that [A] criminals who buy guns are already breaking several federal laws..wonder of wonders!
[B] that most criminal guns are bought 'on the street' or [C]criminals get guns by simply stealing them during variouas other crimes.

I suspect that most 'criminals' are pretty wary of comming to a gun show, where 'the feds' and many local LEOs are wandering around, in uniform and plain clothes, and where many cameras are recording stuff..etc etc. Not the type of place favored by most criminals I'll bet.

Thanks, Fred762

[Kimber45]

Gun shows use to be good. I rarely go anymore because most tables are dealers with new guns. I attended regularly when the shows had tables with private colllectables. With dealers you cannot find a bargin on antique, unusual firearms, used and/or broken firearms that can be repaired, or family firearms that use to make the shows interesting to attend. It seems now I can go to Acadamy Sports or any sporting goods and find the same type firearms as at the shows.

As for the loophole, that is a myth in my opinion. It has been proven over and over again that criminals don't disgrace the doors of a gunshow by going in.

If the gov't really wanted to stop criminals they wouldn't have the revolving door justice system. Just by looking at a few issues of "Just Busted" or by reading the paper in the criminal arrested section it is not a shock that I keep reading the same names over and over again.

Guns in crime are either stolen or sold to them by Eric Holder and the Obama administration, not at gun shows.

[Butch Butler]

This subject should not be worth having after all our Legislature says they dont have time for gun laws,oops my fault there may be money involved so carry on Gentlemen!!!

[Ron W]

I used to receive Bob Pope's publication which I believe was called the Tennessee Patriot in which he described himself as a "constitutional conservative". I do like that term which is an apt description for one like me who wants to CONSERVE the Constitution and ALL of the Bill of Rights according to which neither the Federal Government or the State of Tennessee has any "delegated powers" to regulate the private sales of firearms....PERIOD. Any self-described Constitutional Conservative, as Bob Pope claims to be, should ALWAYS demand that both State and Federal Government be restricted by and obedient to the words of their respective Constitutions.

[SomeGuy]

[Ron W]

If I was a criminal, I would want more gun laws that further restrict or deny guns to peaceable, law-abiding citizens.

[Fred762]

[Ron W]

Hear hear!! Amen!! There's only two real enemies of guns: rust and politicians.[/quote]

You're correct, Fred762 and: ONLY YOUR ENEMY WANTS YOU DISARMED