This is an old revision of this page, as edited by SmackBot (talk | contribs) at 21:36, 6 December 2006 (Date the maintenance tags using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 21:36, 6 December 2006 by SmackBot (talk | contribs) (Date the maintenance tags using AWB)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) | It has been suggested that Gun show loophole be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since December 2006. |
A gun show is a form of exhibition or gathering where guns, gun parts and literature, as well as knives and miscellaneous collectibles are displayed, bought, sold (subject to regulations) and discussed. They often include exhibitions related to various types of hunting and the preparation and preservation of wild game for consumption. They also may be used by gun manufacturers to demonstrate new models—or gun enthusiasts to show antique guns.
Current
Gun shows are typically held in public buildings, including hotels, malls, armories, stadiums, etc., and are open to the public with a nominal fee for admittance. While some shows have as few as 200 tables each and a very few as many as 3,700 tables, most have about 450 tables. They are almost all held on weekends by a promoter who leases the large space, provides the tables, and then allows dealers to rent those tables to show guns, knives, crafts, wares or demonstrate services they can provide. A share of tables don't sell guns or ammo at all, but instead sell accessories like scopes, ammo, holsters, and other things such as pocketknives.
As of 2005, typical dealer rent per table at most shows is in the $60 range, with some top shows charging over $80 per table. Dealers typically travel an amazingly-long circuit that often will have a Mississippi dealer in New York State for a show after one in between the week before. Consumers must typically pay $6 or $7 per person admission (plus often parking of $3-5 per vehicle).
Many consumers enjoy the culture of the gun show and come, park, and browse for a couple of hours or less, hoping to add to their collection, buy ammunition or find a rare piece. Actual buying is minimal, particularly of guns.
In recent years, gun shows have become controversial in some areas, as the scope of the right of private citizens to own firearms has become a topic of political debate. Those opposing gun shows argue that they contribute to illicit trafficking in firearms; those supporting gun shows point to 2nd Amendment rights and regulations which govern the sale of firearms at gun shows.
Since 2002, web-based "gun shows" of sorts have sprung up on the internet. Typically, they don't charge the very-high table rent that dealers at traditional shows pay, instead charging only either a low fee or a commission-on-sale to list an item, with actual transfer of any gun to be handled by a local licensed dealer for a small fee that also increasingly is becoming a major easy profit for some such dealers. Even many dealers still on the traditional show circuit are now also running extensive branches of their show business on such Web "shows" as Auction Arms or GunBroker and have many of their wares for sale there. Other dealers have totally moved to the Web to sell the inexpensive "stuff that sells" (parts, accessories, tools, books) in Web-based "shows" such as the Internet Gun Show that amount to almost an entire gun show in cyberspace that has various "tables" specializing in different things commonly sold at shows, but don't charge admission for browsing.
Gun show laws vary from state to state.
Future
 | This article does not cite any sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gun shows in the United States" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2006) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The future of traditional gun shows remains uncertain. Most dealers on the show circuit have stated that face to face sales is the safest and best way to conduct business. Many consumers prefer to see and touch the merchandise before purchasing.
Slang
The "gun show" has also become common slang in North America for a display of muscular biceps.
See also
 | This firearms-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it. |