With all the "gun" talk we've been floating

[B-Line]

It got me thinking again about guns. No, I have not changed my stance. I do believe in the right to gun ownership but I also believe there should be stricter gun laws, waiting periods, background checks, etc.

- This past weekend, there was a gun show a few miles from my house and I decided to go. Now let me start by saying, I have never been so disappointed about wasting a Saturday as I was just two days ago.

- I've never been to a gun show before and I was expecting something different. I was thinking, car show, motorcycle show, boat show, "Gun Show".. I was thinking the manufacturers would be there, Remington, H&K, Sig, Benelli, Smith & Wesson, etc. I assumed they would have booths and people to answer questions, displays, maybe even some sort of hunting simulator.

Let me tell you, based on my one experience, a gun show is not like what you think it is.

- There was not a single manufacturer there, not even a distributor. It wasn't a "Gun Show" it was a sleazy FLEA MARKET. The exhibitors were people who looked like they went into their attaic, found their WWII surplus equipment and decided to try to sell it on a table next to some other crap.

Granted, there was a pretty decent beef jerky stand AND there was of course your stereo-typical, army surplus, jack-off selling nazi memorabilia, (nothing like a camo swastika hat to brighten up a Saturday.)

But all in all, it was a JUNK FEST. Unless of course you need a new canteen circa (1967) and maybe a LED flashlight that clips to your hat visor.

- There was one table with a guy who had a couple Sig's and a couple 357's, etc. But what a waste of time. Unless of course you consider a couple packs of Beef Jerky to take home, a successful Saturday.

B

[AzX5]

I've never been to one either, and if they're as you describe I won't be rushing to one anytime soon. I wonder if they're different here in AZ though, with the more lax gun laws.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Sorry you were disappointed. I haven't been to a gun show since the old Pomona Gun Show. Those were pretty good actually. There was still a bunch of people selling junk and as I would tell people, if you ever needed a pile of rusty metal the gun show is the place to be. Lots of cowboys stuff, Nazi stuff, and assorted crap. There were lots of people who even dress up like cowboys, Indians, Civil War soldiers, and WW II soldiers. Whatever.

The gun show scene in LA has never been the same since LA County decided not to allow the gun show on county property and since the Fairplex is county property, so went the gun show. There were usually lots of gun dealers there and some distributors. For example, some large HK distributors would be there. That's the only place I've ever seen an HK PSG-1. There were good deals on guns and ammo.

AzX5: I wouldn't rule out going to a gun show because you're in AZ and the gun laws there are still sane. When I'm AZ I try to go by Bear Arms in Scottsdale. Lots of good stuff there.

[Quicksilver]

Hey B

I looked at your post and thought you went out and bought a weapon. Boy was i wrong. I started reading your experience and couldn't help but laugh....

[PersonaNonGrata]

He wants/needs one of these.

[Quicksilver]

lets hope not.........

[statdoc]

Even worse, I have found that gun shows tend to have even higher prices from the dealers than you find at the dealer's own store. I went to a local show a couple weeks ago, and was very disappointed with the findings; not much better than B-Line's description (although not quite as bad). I did pick up a hunting rifle I wanted, but it was from a private citizen with a small collection for sale, rather than from a large dealer.

[lakai]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

Sorry you were disappointed. I haven't been to a gun show since the old Pomona Gun Show. Those were pretty good actually. There was still a bunch of people selling junk and as I would tell people, if you ever needed a pile of rusty metal the gun show is the place to be. Lots of cowboys stuff, Nazi stuff, and assorted crap. There were lots of people who even dress up like cowboys, Indians, Civil War soldiers, and WW II soldiers. Whatever.

The gun show scene in LA has never been the same since LA County decided not to allow the gun show on county property and since the Fairplex is county property, so went the gun show. There were usually lots of gun dealers there and some distributors. For example, some large HK distributors would be there. That's the only place I've ever seen an HK PSG-1. There were good deals on guns and ammo.

sigh.. the golden days. The shows down here used to be great and jam packed with vendors with lots of wares to buy. Too bad they all faded away along with 75% of gunshops that used to be here. They still have gunshows down here in ontario, and I think at the oc fairgrounds, but a few years ago LE would show up in force and try try to entrap many of the vendors and pull sting operations during the shows and pulling people over when they leave the shows. This caused many show promoters/organizers to have fewer and fewer shows since all the harassment from Lawdogs. They even tried to sue the city for lost monies due to their interference. IMO I think the show organizers pissed someone off, or did not do things right with the city by paying enough for law officers to enforce the show.

[Lambeau]

Here in Wisconsin the gun shows have thousands of guns. What did you expect from California, home of the liberal gun laws?!!!

[bjo]

Sounds like a crappy gun show. The ones here in Houston are pretty large and have vast amounts of new guns, equipment, and ammo. There is alot of old crap too as well as the crazy swastika sellers.