Gun shows and taking a picture?

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Taking pictures of people, however legal it may be, strikes me as poor form and bad manners.
On the other hand I've photographed dozens of guns or other related items. Always with permission and usually because I liked a particular sight or other doo-dad and wanted to remember to research it later.

For those of you that have tables share this. At a show two weeks ago a gentleman allowed me to take several detailed photos of a Colt he had on his table. Way out of my league but a buddy of mine from church had asked me to watch for one. I emailed the pics from my phone to my friend who drove 30 miles right then to the show. That very pleasant gentleman made an $800 sale because of a gun show pic.

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Lots of people don't realize that hidden videos are taken at gun shows, and some people try to entrap others into making a sale without any background check.

YouTube might have had one such episode weeks ago.

If the anti-gun radicals did not use distortion and gross deception trying to make their case, it might not matter.
 
This is tricky territory whether at a show or not.

Cell phones are everywhere, to being so ubiquitous that there are debates on what are the earliest ages a person ought have one. Moore's Law has made a wealth of technology available in those phones, too.

At most concert venues there are similar posted bans for recording devices. But, those are virtually unenforceable. There are just too many phones, too many people using them, to actually wade into a concert crowd and stop that use. (It can be handy when that tall drunken boor lurches in front of you ata show, you can see what's going on from the camera he's waving about.)

I was at the Mesquite show on Saturday. It was a full crowd but not jammed-full. The venue had signage banning photography. However, so many people were 'on' phones, there was no way to tell if they were taking pictures, or playing angry birds, or texting or the like (some might have actually been making voice telephone calls <G>).

While I understand the need for privacy, and the desires for same by myself and others, I'm not sure our modern world, already so immersed in video and digital recording will much allow a great strictness in that privacy.

I say that, yet I'd be all in favor of having all restrooms equipped with phone nullification--too many call me from within such rooms, let alone engaged in some of the activities within--but, that is a different matter.

I did not see anything needing taking home at the Mesquite show--but I was there with no cash and overdrawn at the bank, great curbs to impulse spending. The EBR vendors were having their wares handled by all sorts of folk--made me wonder if they needed Purell instead of Hoppe's at the end of the day (I suppose Gun Scrubber would work too).
 
For 12ga Tim post.....

I've run a booth at a lot of gun shows and I expressly ask those who are trying to take pictures not to do so. The reasons are just as others have stated. I don't want my picture taken or those of the guns I have on the table. Partly its due to the simple reasons the others mentioned....I don't like the idea of anti-gun idiots using my stuff to push their agenda. Pretty simple and since all of the shows I do except Knob Creeks machineguns shoot prohibit cameras or picture taking its easily within my rights to ask for no pictures.
The second reason is the result of the internet explosion in the last 10 years or so. I've had people take pictures of my guns and use them on the net to advertise stuff they don't have for the purpose of stealing money from unsuspecting folks. When someone finally tracks the pics down to my guns I'm the one who has to find a lawyer to keep from paying for the theft that was not my doing. I have had to do this on more than one occasion. For that reason my website photos are watermarked and I ask people not to take pictures at gunshows. Once again a simple reason and in my opinion very valid.
If you want to take pics of guns you can find a wider variety on the net posted by people who don't mind you looking or by taking pics at museums.
I try not to be rude to gun show attendees and I do explain the reason why I don't want them taking pictures.

Hope that explains well enough for you.


Frank
 
I find some of the responses funny and some helpful. Never take a photo at a football game or NASCAR race. You for sure are going to get some innocents in one of your shots. Shame on you.
 
I've taken quite a few photos for my website (below) and have never had a problem. I've also never noticed a sign like you mention prohibiting photos
 
On private property they can make up whatever (lawful) rules they want. Out in public, however, you can take pictures because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in most cases. I'd still hunt down specifics on that, however.
 
Their isn't a gun owner one the Government don't know about or have info on that they own, etc... Except illegal owners.
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Quite the contrary...

The "Government" has no idea about a good number of the millions of legally owned firearms in this country...

Not all legal transfers of ownership have gone through an FFL, and many places still enjoy the right to buy and sell privately, give gifts, or to inherit, without the involvement of Big Brother...
 
Maybe I'm just weird, but I believe we should all just mind our own business a lot more, which contradicts the ethics of modern instantaneous digital culture. If a camera flashed in my direction as I was checking out a weapon at a show, I would also corner the guy with the camera and make him delete it. Private property rights still mean something.

On the street anything goes, so keeping a low profile is de rigeur. We all have the right to be left alone.
 
Only time I've taken a pic at a gun show was with the owners permission and only of the firearm of interest. Usually, it was a really cool firearm I wanted to remember. But that was back before cameras had phones built into them. Nowadays, I just write down the name of the firearm and look it up on the internet.
 
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It's a Gun SHOW. They charge admission. If people come in, take pictures, then publish/share them, there is no reason to go to the Gun SHOW.

Exactly. If we already know what kind of jerky, crystal figurines, and Beanie Babies are there, we probably will just buy our jerky, crystal figurines, and Beanie Babies off the internet.
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You guys realize that Gun Shows existed LONG before the Internets, Cell Phone Cameras, Beanie babies, etc, right? This was also before they were just a weekend stop for the local gun store to sell the same garbage they kept in their store, too.

I'm Serious. Gun Show promoters want bodies in the door. Gun Shows USED to have great old guns to see. Stuff you couldn't see in a once-a-month magazine (when there was maybe 3 in circulation) or your local Gun Shop. If you wanted to see cool stuff you had to GO. If they allow pictures to be taken, then people don't have to GO. Plain and simple.

This is an OLD rule that still exists for the same reasons. It's not about invading your privacy or selling someone else's gun. (Although that is happening now, but not way back then)
 
As far as taking photos of the crowd - at a gun show - do you really need the cliff notes on why that might tick some folk off?
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Well, well, well it looks like this question hit a nerve.

First if it is in or on private property then it is up to the OWNER of the property if photos can or can not be taken. I have heard of very few, Zoos or Museums that do not allow photos. Gun shows? Well that's another story.

Actually, each and everyone's picture is taken about 100 times a day in most cities. Walk to the bank, smile. Fill that grocery list, smile. Get gas, smile. Buy a new pair of shoes, smile. Go to the evil Wal-Mart, smile your on candid camera. Buy a pack of cigarettes, smile and yes walkin to your favorate LGS or Cabela's, Gander Mt or Bass Pro and be sure to smile, you'r again on candid camera.

So, gun shows? What's the big deal or better yet, what are you trying to HIDE.
Jim
 
I went to a gun show in Texas this weekend and this came up. I brought my Ipod with the intention of taking notes with possible photo reference of items that I may see that were beyond my current financial status, but were budgeted for the near future.

Much to my dismay just inside the door there was a sign posted for no photos or recordings. I was confused to see a gentleman not 20 ft from that sign snapping pictures with what appeared to be a high quality camera. So I found myself wondering if there were exceptions to the rule or not. I had no intention of photographing people or prices, but even so I wasn't about to break the rules if i could avoid it out of politeness if nothing else. So it turns out, upon questioning the photographer and vendor he was snapping pictures of, that the vendor had no problems with pictures as long as he was notified of what and where the pictures were taken. Later that day I found some nice additions to my up and coming BOB, but the vendor there politely refused my request for close ups of the items in question. Alas, I took good notes on the digi-pad and moved on.

So, to reiterate what has been said already: Inside the building the building's owner has a legal right to post for no photos and enforce it. Outside of the building this holds only if there are the proper signs and you are on the same property. At the shows some vendors may make exceptions if asked, but taking pics of specific people or a crowd is bad form. Especially true if the building has the proper signage posted: these people have a valid right to expect not to be photographed.
 
If a camera flashed in my direction as I was checking out a weapon at a show, I would also corner the guy with the camera and make him delete it.
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If you're willing to risk an assault charge simply because of a camera flash caught out of the corner of your eye, you are certainly a man with whom to be reckoned!


Back to the thread, I've attended a number of professional conferences where attendees are, as a whole, far more secretive and concerned about privacy the vast majority of your gun show crowd. Those always have pretty strict photography rules. At the same time, when I've wanted to take pictures, I've only had a single time where someone I asked said no. Once, I was with someone who had a fairly professional rig and he was only stopped to make sure he wasn't taking press photos without a press pass. It turns out that if you aren't a jerk about it, most folks don't seem to care too much one way or the other.

I think it is also about community. If the photographer seems to be a gun guy, I suspect people will be more apt to allow pictures. If the photography seems to be an outsider looking for dirt for their next expose, the reception will likely be more cold.
 
Quote:
If a camera flashed in my direction as I was checking out a weapon at a show, I would also corner the guy with the camera and make him delete it.

If you're willing to risk an assault charge simply because of a camera flash caught out of the corner of your eye, you are certainly a man to be with whom to be reckoned!
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Let me repeat, it is the OWNER of the property or his/her agent that has that right, NOT YOURS.

I hope you have enough money with for bail on a criminal assalt charge.
Jim
 
As an aside, I went down to the High Noon show about two month's back here in AZ. Old west stuff-- Plenty of spurs saddles and wonderfully engraved firearms. I paid admission and took my camera. Needless to say, I took pictures but I also asked every last vendor I stopped at if it was okay to do so first.

I got a 'yes' out of every last one of the dozen or so simply by being polite about it and asking before hand. I was also privy to some disgruntled off-hand comments about those who didn't in doing so. Be polite. Ask. You'll be surprised. If they say no, respect their wishes and move on.
 
jim243 said:
Well, well, well it looks like this question hit a nerve.

First if it is in or on private property then it is up to the OWNER of the property if photos can or can not be taken. I have heard of very few, Zoos or Museums that do not allow photos. Gun shows? Well that's another story.

Actually, each and everyone's picture is taken about 100 times a day in most cities. Walk to the bank, smile. Fill that grocery list, smile. Get gas, smile. Buy a new pair of shoes, smile. Go to the evil Wal-Mart, smile your on candid camera. Buy a pack of cigarettes, smile and yes walkin to your favorate LGS or Cabela's, Gander Mt or Bass Pro and be sure to smile, you'r again on candid camera.

So, gun shows? What's the big deal or better yet, what are you trying to HIDE.
Jim
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Jim,

There are plenty of folks out there who desire some privarcy. Unfortunately, that is something most folks are quite happy to give up. It doesn't mean you are hiding anything to not want to be on everybody's video or in their photos.
 
Sorry, folks, but parking lots are not public property; they're just as privately owned/maintained as the building(s) themselves.

To me, it's a matter of privacy & security. I wouldn't want someone taking my picture while purchasing a new rolex, either, as it would be a simple matter to follow me to my vehicle and get my license plate number, which would lead to my address, other vehicles I own, etc...

It is, after all, easy as pie to post a picture of video online with any sort of made-up story attached to it; and as they say, once it's on the 'net, it's there forever. Would you like to wind up as the poster child for an anti-gun campaign simpy because someone snapped a picture of you holding an "evil black rifle" with a big excrement eating grin on your face? I thought not.

As to the question "what do you have to hide?", my answer is this: None of your business. If I want to opt-in to the loss of privacy that an online life provides, I will. Until then, I have an expectation of privacy, whether someone's socialist "everyone should know everyone else's business" ideals agree with that or not.
 
While I understand the need for privacy, and the desires for same by myself and others, I'm not sure our modern world, already so immersed in video and digital recording will much allow a great strictness in that privacy.
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While I have no more wish for random people to be taking my photograph for undisclosed reasons than many others in this thread, the simple fact is that I have absolutly no expectations of privacy once I walk out of my front door. The wide spread presence of still and video photography (governmental, buisness or private citizens) in our current culture means you are a fool if you don't think you are being photographed every day.
 
As I understand it, they can prevent you from taking pictures only if you are physically on the property but if you are outside on public property like a street or sidewalk you can legally take pictures of anything you can see. This is based on the old English common law precedent that the eye cannot trespass. There have been plenty of court cases where people took pictures of celebrities at home from rented roof tops, boats and balconies. As long as the photographer is somewhere he can legally be there is nothing that they can do about it. You can even get away with looking in your neighbors window with a telescope provided you do not set foot on their property to do so.
 
Sorry, folks, but parking lots are not public property; they're just as privately owned/maintained as the building(s) themselves.
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The parking lot may be private property, but if it is in view of the street or sidewalk then you have no expectation of privacy and it's not illegal to take photos of people or cars in the parking lot from the sidewalk.
 
Geesh now you have me looking lol. As soon as I walk out my door I have 4 cameras of my Neighbor's pointed at me taking video. Same when I return and that's just the start and end of the day! Are we to load and unload for our trips in darkness? I know I venture out and load/unload my car of guns and ammo in daylight in plain view of all my Neighborrs. Heck the UPS joked with my Fiance about another delivery of ammo for me one day. Guess I don't go to the extreme of wearing a hoodie, glasses and camo while out.

Interesting takes here. I will never take a phone with me again to such an event but I ran across at least one firearm that interested me but didn't have paper and pen. Next time I will bring those. Oh crap... hope they don't think I am writing down serial numbers!
 
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