Silver Spur Trade Show organizer Kim Sansom said President Obama’s Executive Action is a big topic of conversation at its January gun show at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center January 9-10.
“It’s a little busier than normal,” Sansom said. “It’s been a pretty good, steady flow today and people are nervous. They all come out here so they can get news from everybody else.”
The show hosted 175 vendors that buyers can choose from.
“We came to see if we could get any deals,” buyer Mark Long said. “I feel the more regulations that are coming out the prices are going to go up, so a gun that may be $400 today, may be $500 or $600 tomorrow.”
The President’s Executive Action is narrowing something called the “gun show loophole.”
It’ll force private sellers to acquire a federal firearms license and conduct background checks before making transactions.
Seller Michael Tibbets said his business won’t be impacted because he’s had his FFL for 20 years.
Tibbets said it’s a demanding process to get one.
“It’s involved,” Tibbets said. “You have to undergo strenuous background checks, you have to have facilities to store the weapons securely, you have to have knowledge of the law and you have to follow the law.”
The Executive Action will affect the private sellers the most.
Harrel Hurst said he sells from his private collection to put a little extra money in his pocket.
“What little extra we get,” Hurst said. “I don’t work, I’m retired, this is just a supplement to the income.”
Hurst said he would rather quit selling than get the FFL.
“I don’t believe in the license or believe that we should have to have them,” Hurst said. “Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, I think it’d take it all away from us.”
