NRA enters debate on gun shows at fairgrounds

NRA enters debate on gun shows at fairgrounds:
(November 05, 2015)

NASHVILLE — The nation’s largest lobbying organization for gun rights has come to the aid of gun shows held at Nashville’s city-owned fairgrounds as the events draw greater scrutiny from the board that manages the property.

[Hat Tip: Say Uncle]

In Nashville ..... NASHVILLE!!???? ... the board of directors for the fairgrounds is contemplating the feasibility of eliminating gun shows on Country property.

There is no proposal to halt gun shows at the Nashville’s fairgrounds — however, fair board commissioner Kenny Byrd has suggested that a communitywide discussion take place to see whether the public wants to continue gun shows on property that belongs to Metro. That push comes amid proposed regulations floated by he and other fair commissioners they say are aimed at safety.

Well, they've been hosting gun shows for 3 decades and never had a problem.  But ....

On Tuesday Byrd criticized Bill Goodman’s Gun and Knife Shows for its policy of not allowing cameras and media at its events and demanded that it be overhauled.

He also grilled David Goodman, who manages the gun show, for what Byrd called objectionable paraphernalia he learned has been sold at Goodman's gun shows at the fairgrounds. They include stickers that read, “Keep America Free: Shoot a liberal,” and a T-shirt that features the Confederate flag alongside the words, “Defending freedom since 1861.”

“That’s not family-friendly events,” Byrd said. “I’m a liberal. I don’t want to be shot … and I don’t want you selling stuff with that message."

I was shocked .... SHOCKED! ... when I read that Byrd turned out to be a liberal.

Could it be that Commissioner Byrd was not as concerned with the safety of the general public, but more with the safety of Commissioner Byrd's precious self?   So much for representing The People.

“There’s things going on (at these gun shows) that this board would not appreciate,” Byrd said. “And we can’t come in and record a video or take pictures of what’s going on. That needs to change right there.”

Welcome to 1984, brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Big Brother.

Something like this occurred several years ago here in Benton County, Oregon.



The County Commissioners gathered together in a koffee-klatch and a couple of them decided that the Benton County Fairgrounds was not an appropriate venue for Gun Shows.  (Which added considerably to the funding which paid their salaries.)    A call went out from my local gun club to attend a hearing to discuss the matter.

So I tightened my belt, checked my gig-line, and showed up at the 7:30pm meeting.

I arrived about a quarter after 7pm, and the small hearing room (appropriate for about 20 people) had about 100 people ... and the 20 folding chairs were all taken.

We talked with the three-member Fair Board Members, and they said they had no problem with gun shows ("heck, we go to the gun shows too!")  but the County Commissioners had decided that gun shows were A Bad Thing and had to go.

I finally got my turn to speak, and I asked "Who are these people?  Are the County Commissioners here tonight?"

One scrawny white-haired man in the front row raised his hand, and said "I'm a member of the Commission".   When asked, he identified himself by name.

I asked him if he had voted for this change; he said no, he was present and voted against it but he was outvoted.

I asked him how many of the commissioners who voted for it were here.

"No", he said.

"Well, where are they?" I asked.

An elegant of his blue-suited shoulders.  He was the only member of the board who voted against the procedural change, and the only one who appeared.

"SO why, if those Commissioners were so concerned about gun shows, did they not appear at this PUBLIC hearing to defend their actions?"

Again, another elegant shrug.

Military veterans gave testimony of their service, and their citizenship, and their wish to continue attending gun shows there.

Sportsman ... hunters, competitors.  Even people who didn't really shoot much but still enjoyed the annual gun shows; politely waited their turn to give testimony.

The three poor members of the Fair Board were scribbling notes as fast as they could, but they couldn't keep up.  Finally, they just tried to keep track of how many people testified for or against the County Commisioners' arbitrary decision.

The final tally was something like 100 against, zero for, closing the county fair grounds to gun shows.

They closed the county fair grounds to gun anyway, because three County Commissioners have much more clout than a hundred rabid Gun Nuts.

The next year the county elected a new board of Directors.  The guy who showed up at the meeting, who was against the motion?  He didn't even run.

Since that time this county has become an Archipelago of Liberal Rule, run by the Downtown Merchant's Club (who have mostly gone out of business now, since big-box stores opened in the 'suburbs').

Benton County has no Gun Shows.

But neighboring Linn County has semi-annual gun shows now, at $5 admission and $5 parking fees, and literally HUNDREDS of tables.

(Don't ask what it costs to buy a table.   I worked a table one year, as part of the local gun club .. which was one of the primary sponsors.  They had five tables and raked in profits and new members like you wouldn't believe.  Shooting sports are VERY popular with people in this area who are not members of the Benton County Board of Commissioners!)

As for the Benton County Fairgrounds ... they still have a county fair.  Which is great for 4H kids to show off their hand-raised, blue-ribbon livestock; and a few folks who can their own vegetables and bake their pies, and other hand-crafted vendors.

But not so many come for more than the carnival rides, because you can't find belt buckles and ammunition and reloading supplies and books by unpopular authors and holsters and knives and GUNS!

You see, it's just not safe to trust people to sell guns to each other in a public venue even though every transaction would be (and always has been) subject to background checks and the parking lot is patrolled by police to prevent 'non-dealer sales" ... also identified by rabid gun-control nuts as "non-licensed dealers".