Rumors have been swirling that Austin, Texas gun shows were threatened with closure unless they accepted a local rule limiting gun sales to licensed dealers only. The Texas Gun Show home page contains this announcement:
Austin gun show update: Interviews reveal bigger picture
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Politics aside, the ATF, and APD are trying to punish others because they, and their buds who are feds, dropped the ball when it came to keeping illegals out of the picture in the first place. They screwed things up, and now they figure to drop the hammer on the sheeple in order to put a better face on their failure. Illegitimate. THEIR heads need to roll, and hard.
Another interesting twist: I just read that Austin is a so-called "sanctuary city" which directs cop to <I>not</i> enforce immigration laws. And these restrictions were suggested to keep prohibited persons and illegals from obtaining guns. Things that make you say hmmm.
Perhaps Texans should boycott HEB. That and ATF and APD are punishing an innocent man for other peoples's "illegal" activity. Who cares if a felon buys a gun? As David says, if you can't be trusted with a gun, you should be institutionalized anyway. You can't be trusted to do anything, so why single out gun purchases?
This story is most interesting for the information it does NOT contain.
Why didn't the Austin PD support their allegations by stating how many arrests had been made in regards to the " history of criminal activity at the gun show"?
Why, if HEB is under no threat and a compromise has been worked out, have they now informed Boedeker that they will allow no futher gun shows on their property?
Why did Saxet GunShows abruptly stop running gun shows in Austin within the last month or two?
What sort of powers can the "APD Nuisance Abatement Unit" exercise against property owners?
Yes, there is a bigger picture. By utilizing the bureaucracy, those seeking to restrict or/and eliminate gun possession and sales can deliver death by 10,000 cuts, rather than a single blow. The regulatory mechanisms exist to do this.
Moreover, this will be enabled by those favoring law and order and the expulsion of illegals over all other principles. I have already spoken to some who believe that implementing such policies is fine because they are now directed against felons and illegals. So damn the the law abiding who wish to buy and sell guns while staying off the federal list. "We gotta get those illegals", even at the expense of our own freedoms.
Continued...
Continued from last comment...
Howard also overlooks the significance of the fact that the "meeting" with the gun show promoter took place ONLY 2 days before the event, when his investment was already MADE. And, as for the role of the APD and ATF, why were they even at the meeting if this is merely an issue between private parties? My practice involves dealing with bureaucrats. I know their tricks
Howard, get the videotape of the meetings. Let's see the extent to which the ATF and APD participated in this meeting between "private parties."
HEB didn't want to spend millions of dollars defending themselves against a BOGUS "nuisance" charge. The "nuisance" ordinance can drag on for YEARS and in the meantime, the property is SHUTTERED. CLOSED DOWN. Now the building in question is still owned by Walmart and valued at $2.6 million. It is an old big box store and 1/2 was used for a gun show one weekend a month. Until now. With the HEAVY HAND of BATF and Police Cheif Acevedo, the "recommendations" are ATF wish lists that have existed for years. Gestapo in action.
If they were concerned about the illegals why haven't they deported them? Why does Austin continue to be a sanctuary city? The Federal government failing to do its job is not a reason to curtail the rights of citizens, now is it? It would be VERY easy to scoop up most of the illegals. We would solve many problems including crime, higher property taxes, traffic, urban sprawl AND unemployment. So, where is the action?
I spent a number of years as a member of the Western Washington Arms Collectors, which ran the largest monthly gun show in Washington State.
We avoided issues two ways:
Since Washington had a long-standing concealed carry system, that was generally used to check the legitimacy of members. And although the general public could buy anything except firearms, only members could purchase or sell firearms.
Secondly, despite the concealed carry laws, NO loaded weapons were permitted, either concealed or on display, to minimze the chance of a shooting accident. (As far as I know, there never has been an accidental discharge.)
Everyone knew the rules, everyone played by them - and we never had a problem.
sorry, howard, but there are some real villans here.
One of the things I find amusing about this entire flap over illegals purchasing guns....
The adjacent building is entirely devoted to, get this,
a Mexican Flea Market.
The two buildings share a parking lot!
You wanna catch some illegals?
Walk next door.
Better yet, ask for an valid ID upon entry.
Oh, wait, that would violate their civil rights, wouldn't it?
The stupidity behind this entire situation is astounding.
So it's all ok that the APD and the ATF leaned on the property owner instead of the show promoter?
The APD and BATF are using their power to interfere with legal, Constitutionally protected trade. There ARE clear cut villains here and it's the APD and the BATF.
1-Texas Gun Show does not have a history of violations. Those incidents cited by the police happened when an entirely different organization was running a gun show at the same HEB Grocery location. To penalize Texas Gun Show for a competitor’s failings is very much like shutting down one restaurant because another one down the street commits health violations.
2-Citizen-to-citizen firearms sales are legal in the state of Texas. Both federal and local authorities took actions that resulted in the prevention of legal activity as a solution to their perceived problem.
3-Austin is a sanctuary city. This means that illegal aliens, who have already broken the laws of our country just by coming here, are given a free pass. Now the APD is saying that, when they break the law a second time by purchasing a gun illegally, the solution is to penalize a law-abiding citizen and businessman, rather than the criminals.
Perhaps Howard Nemerov sincerely believes that he has made a fair assessm
Perhaps Howard Nemerov sincerely believes that he has made a fair assessment of the “big picture.” But his scope is not big enough.
Interesting comments, folks. But you should be objective enough to make your mostly relevent points to those who are supposed to be responsive to your rights and opinions, not flogging the messenger.
Yes,Austin is a Sanctuary City and it shouldnt even be considered part of Texas anymore. It is the San Fransisco of Texas. Ahh..to be an Elitest Ultra Liberal, newly arrived to Austin from California or New York City, and to truly believe that all of the illegal aliens are just poor honest hardworking god-fearing family oriented peaceful humble hat-in-hand servants for us!?? If this was true, why are they buying guns? Let's remember what Mexico does to an American that is caught in their country with a gun or even a single bullet!! Straight to prison and held for huge ransoms by the Federallies. Any illegal alien caught with a gun in our country should have a mandatory prison sentence to be spent in a Mexican Prison, not one of ours!
As with any agency of any type, managing a problem makes money for the agency. Solving or severely curtailing any problem makes no money and does not justify the existance. That is what gov does. It takes your money to create problems and then when you complain they take more to manage and keep the activity alive for job security.
The meeting should have never happened if the first place. No matter what, when the police suggest or imply they are guilty of "steering" the property owners, at this point this became a crime against Liberty. As far as carrying in the gun show, please. There is the magic line again where carry becomes "unsafe", "I believe in the Second Amendment and profit from it but you can't carry in here", I don't think so.
...well a couple of questions. What are illegal aliens doing here? ...and why aren't they picked up & deported so they can't be buying firearms?
So I say everyone coming into the gunshow needs to prove they are US citizens and are not felons. Then everyone inside the show is free to buy, trade and sell.
In other words a CCW is a gold passport in.
Thanks, y'all for keeping it civil. I have been reading your comments and have already begun collecting material for a follow-up. So we'll see how this unfolds.
Typical Austin, Texas.
Just gotta love the City.
Let the Illegals run wild,
put the honest citizens in jail.
That's just about right.
What bothers me is that after all the "new rules" are in, that often include state sales tax collection, the FFL and on and on, shows will still be stopped cold. It's happened all over especially after all the proofs have been tested A-Z. All the good people and dealers are trashed and then no more gun shows. It's just a question of time for some jerk to do that. I've see the sales tax enforcers and others too making certain all laws were followed. It was 100% correct, but no matter. Licenses of all types are conditional and may be revoked or ignored completely.
Oh, let us not forget "instructions to the jury" on the part of the judges, the last thing the jurists hear before deliberations. Convictions are pushed as people are pushed. If someone with a badge shows up and "suggests" that you do something, how would you ever "push back?" Right, you can't and if you did, you'd go to jail. I'm glad that "cops do good work and just want to go home to kids at night." Nice! FFLs want to make a living and "go home to kids at night" too. What's the difference? Also, when YOU collect state sales taxes YOU are an employee of that state. It seems that should count for something.
If CCW is not allowed in of all places a gun show, what's to stop a Ft. Hood nutcase from just walking in a spraying the place? Lubby's all over again.
There is an opportunity here for an enterprising FFL holder to set up a NICS check station for "private" sales, to collect $20 or so per gun to run a check on the gun and purchaser for private sales. Sure, it is not required under state law, but it looks like some quick cash can be made off purchasers who don't know that....
How can the APD make such a ruling without the Austin City Counsel and/or other city officials proposing and voting on such a ruling? The police department doesn't have authority to require private sales background checks. Sounds like the police chief is basically anti-gun. What will he do next? Gun owners in Austin better watch this carefully and get organized to prevent abuses of power. I hope the promoter of this gun show will find another place for his shows.
...well a couple of questions. What are illegal aliens doing here? ...and why aren't they picked up & deported so they can't be buying firearms?
So I say everyone coming into the gunshow needs to prove they are US citizens and are not felons. Then everyone inside the show is free to buy, trade and sell.
In other words a CCW is a gold passport in.
The police and the building owner I can understand even though I disagree - they're acting consistently with the way they always do. But for the gun promoter to disallow concealed carry is the height of hyprocrisy. The NRA does the same thing at its annual meetings. B.S.
Questionboy says:
If CCW is not allowed in of all places a gun show, what's to stop a Ft. Hood nutcase from just walking in a spraying the place?
Just a wild guess: All the guns and ammo and potential shooters all over the place. Loading a gun just doesn't take all that much time.
It is not clear just what they mean by "no concealed carry". As GSR stated, Washington Arms Collectors does not allow _loaded_ guns to be carried into the show; they do _not_ stop you from carrying an unloaded gun _and_ ammo. Possibly Texas Gun Shows' policy is similar.
Although I heard the interview live I evidently must have listened to a different interview than Howard.
The take that I got was the APD and BATF clearly used pressure to force TGS to accept a policy 2 days prior to the show after advertising dollars were already spent.
The action caused quit a stir in Austin with many private sellers abandoning the show and blaming TGS for the change.
The APD as now caused HEB to never allow another gun show on it premises.
To claim the TGS is over reacting here is a little of an understatement.
There is no law forcing background checks at a gun show in Texas and to compare that to a policy of no conceal carry by the operator is lame.
The APD and BATF engaged in racketeering and that’s a crime
Uh, Mad, I did my own interviews. That's what reporters do. Maybe take a deep breath and go read Green Eggs and Hamm on the next page?
Time to kick the the JBTs in the balls!
Just so I understand this... the ATF and APD go to HEB and say. 'Look we think this address is becoming a nuisance and could be considered in an abatement hearing if this continues.' (the crux is, if the place is a nuisance the govt shuts you down) The promoter says that all of these violations happened when someone else was leasing the property. ATF and APD say 'too bad, nuisance is by address not owner/lessee'. Yeah, that doesn't sound coercive at all. So when complaints are made ATF and APD say 'oh well, this was just a suggestion and this was an agreemnt between private parties'. It's not like TGS had much of a choice since these shows are scheduled MONTHS in advance and the meeting was a few DAY before the event. You think that the ATF and APD just wanted to have a friendly chat with HEB when they start discussing abatement of their property. Not likely. How about the Feds worry about the illegals getting into the country. That'll keep them from buying guns her
Howard, perhaps I'm reading your article wrong, but something isn't making sense to me...
What I'm going to call Paragraph 12 states "HEB then reminded TGS that their original contract contained the FFL rule. After agreeing to comply with the existing contract terms..."
What I'm going to call Paragraph 17 then states "HEB then decided to add a condition to the rental agreement, which Texas Gun Shows agreed to, limiting gun sales to FFLs."
So which is it? Did the original contract contain the FFL rule? If so, then wouldn't the "added condition" be superfluous?
Unless I'm reading something wrong, it doesn't appear that HEB is being completely-forthcoming about what happened here.
Jake: That's the way it was told to me. I explain this situation a bit more in the next article, along with a correction by ATF that brings their take more into line with APD.
I was a vendor at the Gun Show in Austin and I worked in the previous and in that very same show that was busted by police.
The Problem is plain and simple, Darwin did not pay the police so the show got shot down.
The APD drove the initiative, and unfortunately that is a sad way of ending a good business, but that is the way it is done.
If you are running a gun show, a business involved with alcohol or a strip club, if you do not pay the police, they will find a way to shoot you down, it is that simple.
All that is being debated here are the details of how it was done, but the reason is as simple as that.
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