Sam1911
Moderator Emeritus
What compelling reason is there for you to attend a gunshow? No one is forcing you to attend. If you don't like the rules, vote with your pocketbook and don't attend the show.
You have a very good point. I could choose not to attend. I don't choose to do that. I'm not legally required to. That's a compromise about which I have to decide for myself. A weighty one, not undertaken lightly, but one that I am comfortable with.
A show promoter is running a business. A business that requires specialized insurance that, if he doesn't have or can't afford, without such - there is no show.
Loaded weapons in his venue have the potential of jeopardizing his business. He has the right to do business, he has a right to expect you to respect his rules. When you buy a ticket to his event, you have entered into a contract with the promoter to respect his rules on the private property he has rented.
The same point can be made about thousands of venues, gun-realated and not. I could choose to aviod them all, or go about my business secure in my own gun handling (Ha Ha! Or, "gun-NOT-handling" as the case may be ) and my position in regards to the law.
When a promoter leases convention space - he becomes the property owner for the duration of his lease. He is liable for what takes place on that property. You do not have a right to jeopardize the event. You do not have a right to decide what you can and cannot do on someone else's property.
I will admit that I don't know the ins-and-outs of property ownership transfer and liability under a lease agreement such as this. I won't argue about that point.
For the second statement, according to the law of my state, I DO have the legal standing to make the choice I make. Period.
My private defensive weapon does not jeopardize the event. You may believe with all your heart that it does, but that doesn't change the fact. Your beliefs about the threat my holstered, concealed gun poses to the attendees and promotors of the gun show doesn't change the law in my jurisdiction, either. So please don't continue to tell me what "rights" I do or don't have.
Yes. They screwed up big time. They pay a hefty penalty, commensurate with the damage they cause through their negligence -- as they would in any location where such negligence threatened and/or injured another.If the rules don't apply to everyone then they are worthless. I'm 100% certain that every accidental discharge that ever occurred at a gun show was caused by a person who figured the rules didn't apply to him.
I haven't, I don't, I won't. The gun in my holster threatens his liability not at all. Regardless, I don't give up my ability to defend myself and my love ones if the law does not require me to do so.
The rules apply to me. I accept that. I may not follow them, if I am not legally required to do so, but I am not claiming to be exempt from them, either. I accept the penalties as well. If I am seen to violate them, I accept being shown to the door. If I loose my mind temporarily, draw my weapon, and shoot a hole through the promotor's hat, I'll have to take the penalties for that one, too.
It isn't a perfect system. But it works. It works for me (who chooses to go armed) and it works for you (who chooses to go unarmed). It gives the promotor the leverage he needs to maintain safety as he sees fit. There is no conflict.
-Sam