Austin, TX - Gun Show & Gun Owner 2nd Amendment Rights Violated

Austin, TX – Texas Gun Shows 01/16/2010 – 01/17/2010 – What Really Happened!!! Jan 24. 2010 | Comments (4)

Texas Gun Shows is a small gun show that has only been in business for 3 years.  We have primarily done our shows locally in the cities of San Antonio, Live Oak & Austin.  On Jan 14, 2010 Darwin Boedeker of Texas Gun Shows was called into a meeting with the Austin Police Department (APD), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (BATFE), the N. Austin Event Center Building Management (sub-lessee Andrew Perkel a.k.a. Austin Market Place), and HEB Grocery (the Property Lessee).  At this meeting the APD along with the BATFE gave recommendations to all parties on "how to curb the illegal activity that had been documented in the past" (Statement from the APD Jan. 19, 2010 04:26 PM - http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/blotter/entries/2010/01/19/apd_outlines_its_role_in_targe.html?cxntfid=blogs_the_blotter run)  

The fact is, the "illegal activity that was documented in the past" by the APD was not even associated with the Texas Gun Shows!

The Recommendations that were set forth are as follows:

1.  Only Licensed gun dealers are allowed to sell firearms at the gun shows.

2.  The promoter will provide on-site security to prevent parking lot gun sales.

3.  Anyone bringing in a personal firearm to sell in the show, must go through a Licensed (FFL) Dealer to transfer the gun to the new owner.

When Texas Gun Shows objected to these recommendations, the Lessee instructed the Sub-lessee, who in turn instructed that Texas Gun Shows would implement these recommendations set forth at the show or not have the show in their building.  

Since this was the day before the Texas Gun Show Vendors were to set up their tables at the show, Texas Gun Shows decided to go ahead with the show under these "recommendations" to be able to inform the public of what was taking place behind closed doors in Austin! 

Needless to say, when the Texas Gun Show Vendors were informed of these "recommendations", many of them canceled their table reservations the day before the show!

Many of the patrons & law abiding citizens who attended the Texas Gun Show were outraged, and rightfully so, that they were being told that in order to sell their "personal firearm" at this show, they would have to go through a Licensed (FFL) Dealer to transfer the firearm to the new owner! 

Texas Gun Shows feels these "recommendations" set forth by these "Law Enforcement Agencies" infringed upon our 2nd Amendment Rights!  Texas Gun Shows wants the Vendors and Patrons of our show to understand these actions were complied with on our part only to be able to inform YOU, the citizens of the great State of Texas and These United States of America that we will "Fight for our 2nd Amendment Rights!" 

If you agree that your rights have been violated and want your voice to be heard on this matter, please sign this petition and add your comments.  Send this petition to everyone you know!  It could be YOUR TOWN NEXT!