Attn.: Gun-show organizers [!] – please read!

[Spandauer]

On Friday evening, January 29th, 2016, a group consisting of actors and film crew – the latter with name tags indicating they worked for “hulu” LLC - set up a table at the Des Moines, IA gun show. The booth was named “gun show loopholery” and among other weapons an SBR model Tavor, a rifle with an attached suppressor and an AR were “sold”. The backdrop was decorated with fake targets among other themes with “Obamacare” and “foodstamps” printed on them. The film team would take videos of the fake booth and recorded their conversation with law enforcement which the organizer at one point asked to have some members escorted outside. Hulu had previously contacted the gun show organizer and asked for permission to take videos at the event. However they did not explain that one part of the team would impersonate a seller while the film crew would record them as an example of a typical gun show stereotype. Being asked for the reason they stated that the purpose was a “comedy” and that “they had attended Cruz and Trump events considering to shout controversial slogans to stir up the crowd”. The film crew was accompanied by their own covert security and some members were taking cell phone videos and used hidden microphones.

For more information please contact the organizer www.gunshowtsp.com.

Source: myself attending the event.

 

[Twiki357]

Interesting. Every gun show that I’ve been to has had signs posted prohibiting any photography.

 

[HammsBeer]

All the gun shows I've been to in MN also ban filming/photos.

Sounds like they set up a fake booth with fake actors to do a fake sale without background checks to promote the fake "gunshow loophole". Can't find a real FFL dealer to do an under the table sale? We'll just make our own!

 

[plodder]

Perhaps a friendly tip to the local BATFE office to check out the papers & silencer would be in order.

 

[OilyPablo]

Contact the authorities.

 

[akarguy]

Even if these were replica suppressors and semiauto weapons, would any federal laws have been broken by passing them off as real and offering them for sale without all the proper seller credentials? Would other laws have been broken offering them for sale while stating they would not perform diligence on the buyer's credentials? Anyone knowledgabe please chime in. Authorities should probably be notified either way. PS... We should probably share this thread with a friendly email to gun show organizers we're aware of.

 

[MEHavey]

It's called a sting, and no different that selling fake SENMTEX to an Islamist terrorist... then arresting him.

 

[Rembrandt]

I saw them outside the building entrance filming huddled around the back of a mini-van or pickup. Was not sure what it was all about. Saw the same bunch at the Adventureland Gun show two weeks ago with cameras, appeared to be interviewing some gun show dealers.

Possibly the liberal attempt to replicate Brietbart undercover investigations of Planned Parenthood and Acorn.

 

[joem1945]

I usually take a copy of my FFL if I'm looking for something just in case I can make a deal.

 

[medalguy]

If they're offering a fake suppressor claiming it to be real, fraud comes to mind.

 

[Spandauer]

RE: "All the gun shows I've been to in MN also ban filming/photos."

The Des Moines gun and knife show has the same policy. But this time the above mentioned media managed to convince the organizer to make an exemption. At that time though the organizer was not aware of the collaboration of the media and fake sellers who were part of the plot.

 

[Warp]

It's called a sting, and no different that selling fake SENMTEX to an Islamist terrorist... then arresting him.

Uh...if they were to release or air footage in any way with any impression whatsoever that sales were being conducted which are in fact against the law...yes this is very very different.

Based solely on what the OP has stated, it sounds like somebody trying to create a lie to push a political agenda against guns and gun owners.

How the heck does your sting operation compare to this?!

 

[Spandauer]

Re: "Contact the authorities."

Police and sheriff's department were at the scene. However from my point of view it was not clear if either was aware of the particular legalities concerning SBRs and suppressors. As it seemed the actors are from CA selling NFA firearms across state line would even add to the potential violations of federal law.

 

[Spandauer]

Plus, in addition to what I said above they also were very well organized in selecting attendees who - let's say it this way - were not the ideal representatives of the 2A community.

Interestingly they came prepared for controversy as their covert security person was always in the background. So clearly they did not pay a visit to the show just in order to see if they could find some "random crazies with NRA shirts". Instead the plot was very well orchestrated.


Be aware: it may only take one of those arranged occurrences and once the average citizen has made up his mind he happily gives the government green light for more nonsensical anti 2A legislation. Once the truth is out it's a very tedious process to reverse those unconstitutional laws. Besides: the average viewer at that time won't hear anymore what really happened.

Gentlemen, we live in very dangerous times. Please pass the information about the event on to other gun show organizers nationwide!

 

[Rembrandt]

Some more to the story....

Iowa is currently over run with media people from all over the world covering the caucuses. These media organizations are in search of side stories to go along with the political reporting. Many of the big name politicians are attending the show and the media is following them around. Hulu appears to be from California to cover the politics.

The gun show organizers were contacted by "Hulu" who wanted to set up a table promoting literature, T-shirts, information, and non firearm items. They did not provide a copy of an FFL because they were not selling firearms as other dealers are required to do when registering for the show. Once in the door they displayed replica airsoft guns and began their fake act trying to entrap unwitting attendees.

 

[hso]

The important take away here is to spread this information far and wide ahead of any airing of the show this material would go into.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Wait... what?

They have HULU name tags
They "name" the booth “gun show loopholery”
They "asked" permission to film ahead of time

This is sounding a bit hinkey to me. I personally know and closely deal with 4 separate promoters of note and NOT ONE of them would have allowed this.

Nah... not buyin' it.


Todd.

 

[dragon813gt]

Why didn't the OP film or take pictures of this? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Everyone carries a phone w/ a camera these days. If you don't, you should start because you never know when you're going to need it.

 

[Spandauer]

Re: "Nah... not buyin' it."

Todd, Rembrandt (Posts: 3,322) and I (I do not regularly post here b/c I am self-employed and simply too busy) never met in person. We don't know each other through personal messages either. What about you send him a private message and inquire after further details to corroborate my story?

Unfortunately due to the regulations posted at the entrance none of the other attendees took any video footage and when I talked to the person representing the organizer - to my knowledge a former police captain - neither did they. But perhaps Rembrandt has more on that.

 

[hso]

Let's just stick to the topic so this thing doesn't have to get pruned of conspiracy drift and closed down.

 

[Rembrandt]

I was mistaken (post#8) in thinking these were the same people filming at the Adventureland gun show. I've been told that was a legit local TV station doing a favorable story, not Hulu.

The DSM show agreed to interviews and filming by some media outlets, a couple of which are foreign news outlets. Keep in mind they are here covering the political caucuses and gun control is a controversial political topic. Naturally they want to cover that angle of the story and how it may affect the caucus outcome. Promoters feel that a positive message can come of doing the interviews.

Hulu flat out lied to the promoter about their intention and purpose.....when discovered they were given the boot.