MWCA gunshows, Now theres one for you.

It does??????????

What are we going to do about it???

Lets face it. Loaded guns at gun shows can lead to mistakes. Guns on display at gun shows are often dry fired. The presence of a loaded gun can lead to a mistake. Mistakes that none of us want. When a gun is discharged at a gun show, the anti's jump all over it. Remember what happened in St. Paul.

Fundamentally, I agree with a thought behind the MWCA postings. It is not a legal posting per Minnesota law. It is a safety reminder. I do think it could be worded better.

Personally, I carry at gun shows CONCEALED and NEVER show my weapon. It absolutely stays holstered and covered at all times. If I need a magazine or other accessory for my weapon, I carry it in UNLOADED.

I understand and mostly agree with their rationale, but I would like to see them have a protocol that would allow for CCWs to be "certified unloaded" at the entry, although I also think that may be harder to do than to advocate.

After the last show in December, I'm kind of done going to them anyway. Just about anything available there seems available on the internet or locally at more competitive prices anyway.

I've always said if you demand that permit holdlers disarm before entering any premises, you need to have a SAFE space for them to do so. If MWCA is serious about safety, they should install a clearing barrel at their shows. Every show I have been to there have been people unloading guns in the lobby area. Now that's unsafe.

This statement doesn't hold water. If you truly believe this, than I hope that you don't practice any dry fire technique, or any technique for that matter, except at an approved range. I mean, you might have ammunition, or worse yet, a loaded weapon someplace in your house.

I carry at the gun shows, all the gun shows unless they are properly posted, or at least make an attempt to properly post, then I don't go. And no, I did not go to the last Weapons Collectors in the Twin Cities and I didn't got to the Rochester show, I believe it was posted. When I do go to a gun show carrying, I do not fondle, play with, show it off, or practice weapon presentation, I carry it and it's loaded.

Sorry if I stepped on someone toes, but that is the way it is.

I agree, and I have been not going to gun shows since I got my permit over this very issue.

I didn't see any signs at the rivercentre, but, I wasn't looking.

I know others have commented already, but I feel I have to also. Why would you hold a weapon and dry fire it without checking it first? Why would you set down your carry piece right next to another that looks similar enough to be confused for the unloaded one???

Shouldn't being trained (even informally) in firearms safety negate the issue of "mistakes"?

should negate

me, hunting since 9years old, trained, qualified by anybody's standards, able to build firearms from de-milled parts, safety +, PA CCW, ect.

My father, shot in the Coast Guard, shot alot growwing up, shot a bit with me.

Other folks? shot sometime. Maybe.

Is there a need for above average gun safety at shows?

If everybody was me or you, probaably not.

Fact is the majority that come through the gates are less gun "safe" than my father even. . . and that requires a little extra precaution . . . even if that means asking you to be extra, extra safe +

If the people carrying are that unsafe, should they even be carrying anywhere?

I sent this to the MWCA:
"In reading your blurb on your website I come to the conclusion that you are not willing to allow LEGAL AND PERMITTED carry at your shows. I truly hope this is a mistake, as it gives creedence to the ANTI's that we can not be trusted. If this is truly the case then I will not be attending anymore of your shows and I will be expressing my feelings to those who I know both attend and display at your shows.

This is a ridiculous statement about your trust in your constituency and feel this can not be your intent."

signed


and received this back in return.

(they misspelled my name in the response)

"Make no mistake about it. We never have and never will allow loaded firearms at our shows. Nor does the NRA.

Gail Foster"

I have no idea about the NRA but I have carried throughout the SHOT show without any hassle.

Hmm. In my best "soup nazi" voice:

No gun show for me.

The NRA doesn't allow guns at their gun shows? Cam Edwards (NRA News) was talking about carrying at their annual convention if Wisconsin CCW law was in efffect.

The more loaded weapons confined to such an area means more of a chance for accidents to happen. Imagine somebody's gun falling to the floor and going off? The chances of this happening are quite slim, but have more of a chance of happening if they allowed carry. Keep in mind that everybody at the show is "gun friendly" and either has a carry permit or wants a carry permit.

If that isn't enough for you, consider this:

In my carry class, I had an interesting gentleman taking the course as well. He was a strapping (no pun intended) young lad, about 22 or so, and played the "thug" role VERY well. When it came to the shooting test, he pulls out a Glock 9... either a 17 or 19, don't know for sure. Under the glock was the glock 31 round mag. Now I hate to stereotype, but this picture couldn't get any clearer. The only thing he forgot to do was aim the gun sideways. So anyways he failed the shooting test because "the gun was too heavy". Gee, wonder why. This particular individual had already taken the course, and failed for the same reason, with the same gun, with the same mag. He then took the shooting course over again with a borrowed revolver and passed. He now has a carry permit, with his glock, and his 31 rd. mag. Would you like to mingle with this guy at a gun show? Besides the fact you'd probably be safe because he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn standing inside, I'd still be worried.

I actually use to work at the MWCA shows, as my father used to be a dealer. I really couldn't imagine a safer environment as at their shows, and never thought of a need to carry there. My $.02.