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Gun shows draw smaller crowds
State laws, development cited for diminishing interest
By LEROY STANDISH/Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — For the past 20 years, Anda Padgett and her family have promoted gun shows throughout the state.
She has seen the faces and the guns come and go, but lately the faces and the guns are becoming fewer and fewer.
"I'll admit that California has about smothered us to death with all the laws, and it has really slowed the shows down," said Padgett, owner of Central Coast Gun Shows. "It's slowly going."
Gun shows, like the one she promoted Saturday and Sunday at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, allow gun enthusiasts a place to get together to talk guns and to trade and sell.
"They'll come in and talk about things, hunting stories, and won't leave for two days," she said.
But those coming to do the trading, the buying, the selling and the talking are on the decline, said David Halbrook, chairman of the High Desert Friends of NRA.
"Shooting is not as popular as it once was — too much development, too many houses," he said. "It's pretty much a dying sport."
He pointed at the rifles and handguns displayed on the tables surrounding his blue tableclothed surface, covered with National Rifle Association promotional materials. He noted that just one of the 50 or so weapons within sight was made after 1980.
"You don't see a lot of new stuff coming into the sport," he said.
Terry Holloway — who was not selling guns, but gun accessories — also noted the decline in the numbers of gun enthusiasts. He said state regulations are making it too much of a bother to own a gun.
"It is just too difficult in California," Holloway said. "All the laws, rules and regulations anymore — it is just too big of a pain anymore."
To purchase any firearm here, buyers must conduct the purchase through a licensed firearms dealer, prove residency, pass a background check, pay state fees and wait 10 days, according to the state Attorney General's office. If everything checks out, they can then receive their purchase. For handguns, purchasers also must have a handgun safety permit, and purchases are limited to one every 30 days.
Guns are not the only things to see at the show after paying the $8 entrance fee — it also is a place to see all manner of weaponry for personal protection, including Tasers and knives. And a place to buy delectables such as jerkied meats.
Doug Hammond, an employee of the Seventh Street Pawn Shop in Victorville, stood behind a table lined with rifles and handguns under glass. He disputed the notion that gun shows were slowly becoming things of the past.
"It's not being promoted," he said. "It's just the promotion. It is not a dying thing."
Many of the weapons he had on display and available in the neighboring booths were collectibles or hunting rifles. And those are for the market the show caters to — collectors, hunters and responsible gun owners, he said.
"The truth is you got honest citizens involved," Hammond said. "It's not like it is portrayed. You don't have 'gangbangers' coming through here. You got honest citizens here."
Central Coast Gun Shows has scheduled 10 shows throughout the state this year, and will return to Victorville in October.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/111020501785924.html
State laws, development cited for diminishing interest
By LEROY STANDISH/Staff Writer
VICTORVILLE — For the past 20 years, Anda Padgett and her family have promoted gun shows throughout the state.
She has seen the faces and the guns come and go, but lately the faces and the guns are becoming fewer and fewer.
"I'll admit that California has about smothered us to death with all the laws, and it has really slowed the shows down," said Padgett, owner of Central Coast Gun Shows. "It's slowly going."
Gun shows, like the one she promoted Saturday and Sunday at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, allow gun enthusiasts a place to get together to talk guns and to trade and sell.
"They'll come in and talk about things, hunting stories, and won't leave for two days," she said.
But those coming to do the trading, the buying, the selling and the talking are on the decline, said David Halbrook, chairman of the High Desert Friends of NRA.
"Shooting is not as popular as it once was — too much development, too many houses," he said. "It's pretty much a dying sport."
He pointed at the rifles and handguns displayed on the tables surrounding his blue tableclothed surface, covered with National Rifle Association promotional materials. He noted that just one of the 50 or so weapons within sight was made after 1980.
"You don't see a lot of new stuff coming into the sport," he said.
Terry Holloway — who was not selling guns, but gun accessories — also noted the decline in the numbers of gun enthusiasts. He said state regulations are making it too much of a bother to own a gun.
"It is just too difficult in California," Holloway said. "All the laws, rules and regulations anymore — it is just too big of a pain anymore."
To purchase any firearm here, buyers must conduct the purchase through a licensed firearms dealer, prove residency, pass a background check, pay state fees and wait 10 days, according to the state Attorney General's office. If everything checks out, they can then receive their purchase. For handguns, purchasers also must have a handgun safety permit, and purchases are limited to one every 30 days.
Guns are not the only things to see at the show after paying the $8 entrance fee — it also is a place to see all manner of weaponry for personal protection, including Tasers and knives. And a place to buy delectables such as jerkied meats.
Doug Hammond, an employee of the Seventh Street Pawn Shop in Victorville, stood behind a table lined with rifles and handguns under glass. He disputed the notion that gun shows were slowly becoming things of the past.
"It's not being promoted," he said. "It's just the promotion. It is not a dying thing."
Many of the weapons he had on display and available in the neighboring booths were collectibles or hunting rifles. And those are for the market the show caters to — collectors, hunters and responsible gun owners, he said.
"The truth is you got honest citizens involved," Hammond said. "It's not like it is portrayed. You don't have 'gangbangers' coming through here. You got honest citizens here."
Central Coast Gun Shows has scheduled 10 shows throughout the state this year, and will return to Victorville in October.
http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/111020501785924.html
Which sounds REAL convenient for a 2-day show....
