The discharge issue didn't cross my mind when I posted this. I suppose that makes sense. I believe they also banned vendors from selling both ammo and guns. I saw one or two ammo vendors, and neither sold firearms. I also never saw ammo for sale at any of the hundreds of firearm vendors.
Charles L. Cotton wrote:It does seem a bit ironic on its face; something like a "no dogs" sign at the entrance of a dog show.
However, the reality is that guns shows are going to be a thing of the past, not because of the anti's legislative efforts, but because insurance companies aren't going to continue to insure them if we keep seeing unintentional discharges. As soon as a promoter can't get insurance, government-owned facilities will no longer be available. As txinvestigator said, the temptation to show their gun to someone, or to try on a holster or fanny pack, is just too great for some people.
Something else to consider is a topic discussed in another thread a while back. People at gun shows are not exempt from TPC §46.02. So unless you have a CHL, it's illegal to carry a handgun at a gun show. This is not enforced, but it is the law. Further, as a CHL, you can legally carry a handgun at a gun show (presuming you are not violating a valid and enforceable 30.06 sign), but if you intentionally fail to conceal it, you could be prosecuted. If promoters were to take the position the CHL's can carry loaded only if they comply with TPC §46.035(a) (concealed), then the only way they could enforce this requirement would be by hiring police officers to make arrests of CHLs "intentionally" failing to conceal their guns. It's a no-win situation for gun show promoters.
I don't like 30.06 signs - period. However, with the number of discharges we've seen at gun shows in the last two years, I think they may be necessary. (I also think they are unenforceable on government-owned property, but that's a subject for another thread.)
Chas.