Private sales from individuals to individuals prohibited in Austin, TX (merged)

Austin, TX Gun Shows - FFL sales only?

Just saw this on the TSRA website, but it appears that the Austin PD and ATF have some hand in getting the Texas Gun Shows to require sellers of firearms to have an FFL. Anyone heard anything else about this?

Story and links below.

Here's the post from the TSRA front page:

Austin Gun Shows Under Attack?

It has been reported to TSRA that the Austin Police Department in cooperation with at least one agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is apparently trying to limit or eliminate gun shows in Austin. Here is a link to the Texas Gun Shows website setting forth a policy that allows only federal firearms licensees (FFL) to "set up and sell firearms." This policy was instituted in response to statements made by an Austin Police Department detective. It is also reported that individual attendees will not be able to sell firearms without having to go through an FFL.

This matter is being researched by TSRA and its attorneys at this time.


From the Texas Gun Shows website:

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.

(This does not affect our vendors who do not sell firearms)

HSO is right. Before doing anything ask yourself, “Where did they get the statutory authority too do this?” Without it, they can’t do it.

I say that's not true.

"I was told today that"
Who told you that?

there's a good thread about it on AR.15.com -Texas forum (in hometown forum)

basiclly, the APD chief (from kali) is using a "public nusiance" clause in some ordinance that allows them to prohibit the sale private-private at the shows cause they claim alot of the guns they pick up from crime scenes come from the shows; they haven't shown proof yet, but they are going to bully the individuals into not excersising their freedom.

There's a ton of constitutional issues there that have yet to be weeded out, and there are some individuals that claim they will challenge this, so it's not over yet.

BTW, this same po po chief started MANDATORY blood draws for suspected DWI's (if they refuse field testing); they have set weekends that they announce, and have a judge on standby to sign court orders mandating the blood draw. After that, you're in a criminal DNA database.

Don't tighten yer tinfoil hats too much!!! (oh, sorry, wrong forum; everyone trusts their guberment HERE, don't they?)

It's not that we trust the government, but it's pretty easy to say " I heard from a guy who knows a guy"....


If you read the TSRA story on it there is still some question on exactly WHAT is happening.

The story says that the Sheriff is only allowing FFL's to "set up tables". The TSRA says they have heard rumors that private party sales are impacted but they
are still researching it so that part MAY or MAY NOT be true.

It has been reported to TSRA that the Austin Police Department in cooperation with at least one agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is apparently trying to limit or eliminate gun shows in Austin. Here is a link to the Texas Gun Shows website setting forth a policy that allows only federal firearms licensees (FFL) to "set up and sell firearms." This policy was instituted in response to statements made by an Austin Police Department detective. It is also reported that individual attendees will not be able to sell firearms without having to go through an FFL.

This matter is being researched by TSRA and its attorneys at this time.

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https://www.tsra.com/

And a link to one of the gun show organizers who has it on their page as well:

http://texasgunshows.net/default.aspx

Regardless, it looks like it's time to elect a new Sheriff in Austin. And, if not a member of TSRA already, it's time to join (if you live in Texas).

ETA: Oops, my bad. Don't know where I got Sheriff.

It's not the TRAVIS County Sheriff that's doing this, it's Art Acevedo, the Austin Police Chief that's pushing this.

More here http://waronguns.blogspot.com/2010/01/messin-with-texas.html

The Chief of Police is the one exerting the pressure. And this should be moved to legal or activism.

It has been reported to TSRA that the Austin Police Department in cooperation with at least one agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is apparently trying to limit or eliminate gun shows in Austin.

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But again, The BATF&E doesn't have any statutory authority too prohibit private gun sales between (in this case) Texas residents unless one or both of the parties are a prohibited person. If some agent(s) are acting on they're own they'll be cut off in quick order. The Big O in Washington does not want some of his hired hands setting off a new gun buying frenzy. As for the City of Austin, lawsuits will soon be hot and heavy. Last but not least, gun shows can reloate outside of the city limits.

The Chief of Police is the one exerting the pressure.

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Is this an elected position or appointed?

Appointed. Alsdo heard from a reliable source that two individuals that were conducting a FTF transaction were arrested at the show. Do not know what for{ Probably trespass}.

Wait... what the hell? I'm pretty sure that APD can't prevent you from doing a FTF because it's allowed by law in Texas. Isn't this like the equivalent of pulling someone over for running a green light?

not quite

They APD is asking that Texasgunshows only allow FFL's to display firearms on tables at gunshows in Austin- no private individuals selling guns (at shows, in Austin).

So yes, its an incremental infringement and it has the effect of prohibiting private/FTF transfers AT GUNSHOWS IN AUSTIN. But otherwise, its Texas-as-usual.

C-

heard from a reliable source that two individuals that were conducting a FTF transaction were arrested at the show

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If true and they weren't doing anything illeagal, these guys might have a large payday waiting for them. Houston ended up paying large settlement to two guys who were video taping a police operation from their porch and were arrested for bogus reasons because the cops didn't like the idea of them being watched.

--wally.

it's probably going to end up something to the effect the property owner does not want unlicensed individuals conducting private sales on their property for fear of a liabality lawsuit if the guns cause injury or a crime.

Time to break out the pitchforks and head up to Austin, folks. Send some angry emails and make some angry calls... this stuff really ticks me off!

If he's "appointed" then the person or board that appointed him should also be under fire!!!!! Don't stop at just the point person, look beneath the covers for "the rest of the story"........

No city can make up any rules that are in violation with state laws. SanFran learned this the hard way. If Texas law says there can be FTF sales, the Austin just has to deal with it. Sounds like someone over there is getting too big for their britches.

HEB Grocery stores own the building. What they did was use their (Chief of Police and BATFE) "powers" to intimidate the HEB company into this. Now the intimidation is illegal in itself....it is being investigated.
Debra Medina candidate for Governor is going to make hay here and draw significant attention to this....I foresee trials and issues for our fair head Socialist Austin Chief of Police in the very near future.

Art Acevedo was hired from the Los Angeles PD. He has been slowly changing Austin PD to reflect LAPD. Just check the new paint jobs on the cars.

Austin has always been the liberal bastion of the unwashed. Too many over-the-hill hippies control Texas' state capitol.

Time to break out the pitchforks and head up to Austin, folks. Send some angry emails and make some angry calls... this stuff really ticks me off!

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Those pitchforks will be totally ineffective without accompanying torches.

Torches and pitchforks! Yeah! That's the ticket...

Just trade numbers and make the exchange later??