Scrounger
Active Member
While there are certainly members on this forum that are older than me, I’m old enough to remember when gun shows were an event. The dates for the shows at Pikeville and Greenbelt were placed on the calendar and eagerly awaited.
There also were a lot more gun shops back then. They weren’t just for buying guns either. They were a place to socialize and get caught up on what was happening with firearms, hunting and what not.
For a whole host of reasons that time has passed.
It could be said the Clinton administrations activities to reduce the number of Type 01 FFL holders would be a good start. Let us not forget that prior to that the ATF use to set up at gun shows to help people get an FFL so as not to run afoul of the selling of guns without a license law.
For some time, the gun show has supplanted the gun shop as a place to buy things locally.
Prior to and during the Obama administration the number of attendees at gun shows went up exponentially. One of the results has been a dramatic increase in the number of shows. The Chantilly show as an example went from a couple of shows to seven a year. The Oaks show in Pa has four shows a year.
Between the massive spending that was done during the prior administration, less fear of adverse regulation, more shows to go to, among other things, attendance is down at all the shows.
The question is what can or should be done about it.
This past weekend at the Howard County Show I spoke with both vendors and attendees. Both groups commented about the fewer vendors and attendees. Many vendors questioned how long it can go on without business picking up. Remember the vendors aren’t there for the goodness of their heart. While there are some that do it as a hobby, more do it as a business. And if they start losing money they stop setting up at the show. A few of the attendees commented about how it was cheaper to get things online. That may apply to accessories, but one still must do firearms transactions in person.
While I don’t suggest one has to go to every show no matter how far I would suggest supporting the local ones. Bring a friend, even better one that may be sitting on the fence about firearms. If you have children, it is vitally important for them to attend. For don’t forget they are the future.
There also were a lot more gun shops back then. They weren’t just for buying guns either. They were a place to socialize and get caught up on what was happening with firearms, hunting and what not.
For a whole host of reasons that time has passed.
It could be said the Clinton administrations activities to reduce the number of Type 01 FFL holders would be a good start. Let us not forget that prior to that the ATF use to set up at gun shows to help people get an FFL so as not to run afoul of the selling of guns without a license law.
For some time, the gun show has supplanted the gun shop as a place to buy things locally.
Prior to and during the Obama administration the number of attendees at gun shows went up exponentially. One of the results has been a dramatic increase in the number of shows. The Chantilly show as an example went from a couple of shows to seven a year. The Oaks show in Pa has four shows a year.
Between the massive spending that was done during the prior administration, less fear of adverse regulation, more shows to go to, among other things, attendance is down at all the shows.
The question is what can or should be done about it.
This past weekend at the Howard County Show I spoke with both vendors and attendees. Both groups commented about the fewer vendors and attendees. Many vendors questioned how long it can go on without business picking up. Remember the vendors aren’t there for the goodness of their heart. While there are some that do it as a hobby, more do it as a business. And if they start losing money they stop setting up at the show. A few of the attendees commented about how it was cheaper to get things online. That may apply to accessories, but one still must do firearms transactions in person.
While I don’t suggest one has to go to every show no matter how far I would suggest supporting the local ones. Bring a friend, even better one that may be sitting on the fence about firearms. If you have children, it is vitally important for them to attend. For don’t forget they are the future.
