Austin Gun Show Troubles?

[flb_78]

VENDOR NOTICE-AUSTIN SHOW ONLY:

At the direction of the Austin Police Department and the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms,

ONLY LICENSED FFL DEALERS

will be allowed to set up and sell firearms

at the N. Austin Show Location.

http://texasgunshows.net/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[A-R]

WHAT?!?!?!?

Based on what authority?

Now I'm starting to wonder if this is why Saxet Gun Show skipped town at end of last year. I was going to go to show tomorrow. Now, not sure it's worth it.

[Charles L. Cotton]

http://www.tsra.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nitrogen]

makes me want to drive down to Austin and get in a lil' trouble.

[A-R]

Thank you, Charles. Are y'all looking for eyewitness reports? I might go now just to see this "official oppression" for myself.

[HankB]

Based on what authority?

EXACTLY my first response!

I believe this is the same show that was in an old Target on I-35 last year - if so, it was a small show with almost as many vendors for Sham Wow, candy, etc., as there were for firearms . . . yet admission was HIGHER than for the SAXET show.

If they're now instituting asinine restrictions like the above, they're going to stay small. And I won't be making any contributions to their business model by attending.

[Oldgringo]

VENDOR NOTICE-AUSTIN SHOW ONLY:

At the direction of the Austin Police Department and the

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms,

ONLY LICENSED FFL DEALERS

will be allowed to set up and sell firearms

at the N. Austin Show Location.

http://texasgunshows.net/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That's a rather Kalifornia thing for the good people of Austin to allow. Is Austin still the capital of Texas?

[marksiwel]

Maybe it was the only way they could get the permit to hold the show.

Is there anything stopping you from standing in the parking lot or passing out business cards at the show for private sales?

[Shorts]

That's a rather Kalifornia thing for the good people of Austin to allow. Is Austin still the capital of Texas?

My thoughts exactly!

Come on Austin, start purging yourself of the disease.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Thank you, Charles. Are y'all looking for eyewitness reports? I might go now just to see this "official oppression" for myself.

We have it, but thanks for offering.

Chas.

[joe817]

Definitely a show not worth going to. There are to many other good gun shows around for me to spend my money at.....or set up at for that matter.

[Charles L. Cotton]

If they're now instituting asinine restrictions like the above, they're going to stay small. And I won't be making any contributions to their business model by attending.

It's not the gun show promoter's doing. Staying away will help Austin PD accomplish its goal of ridding Austin of gun shows.

Chas.

[bdickens]

I hope TSRA sues the bejesus out of them!

[joe817]

It would be interesting to learn if the gun show promoter was informed that they could not obtain a permit to hold the show IF they did not acquiesce to the demands of the Austin PD and the ATF(to exclude private gun owner transactions between themselves). I wonder how many violations of State and Federal law came into play if that, in fact, were the case?

[A-R]

Just left this show. Posting from my iPhone, so brief notes for now more later.

1. Signs posted on door similar to what was posted on Internet. Did not see any enforcement. No LEO presence at all except one uniformed Austin Parks Police officer who was shopping the tables and asked, disappointedly, didn't this show used to be bigger? Doubt he was there in any official capacity.

2. Petition at the ticket counter against the no private sales "rule?" ... Don't even know what to call this except words not fit for 9 year olds

3. NO 30.06 POSTING. NO LEO CHECKING WEAPONS (only some young guy putting on zip ties). No mention of any kind that CHL was not allowed. This is of course s huge change from the old Saxet show.

4. Very small turnout of vendors. Less than half the available space used. Recognized a few of the ol Saxet vendor. Not many visitors/customers either. Parking lot, which wad always nearly full for Saxet, was less than half full.

5. Talked briefly with show promoter. He said he had been in contact with Charles.

6. A few people were still walking around with guns and asking "how much for that?" etc. But did not witness Nor participate in any private transactions. One vendor was making a fuss to anyone who would listen that he did not have FFL but was selling guns anyway. Note on his table saying a big "surcharge" on his price for ATF. Didn't set him actually sell anything, but he was trying. He told me "let em come arrest me. Somebody has to be the test case". More power to him I guess.