[Puppage]

The recent study by Garen Wintemute, director of the violence-prevention research program at the University of California, Davis, contends that police presence at the shows is too small to discourage illegal activity

Nothing like an unbiased source...

[Puppage]

Also pending in Congress is a "Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2007," geared to require criminal-background checks for all firearm transactions at events where guns change hands.

Already the law there, champ.

[Redcloak]

Yup... Wintemute’s about as unbiased on guns as Algore is on hybrid cars.

[untrained skeptic]

He also alleges that illegal activity took place, but won't or more likely can't prove it and won't even point fingers at anyone in particular because that would open him to a lawsuit.

Some of the things he has described as straw purchases aren't necessarily straw purchases either.

He claims these crimes are rampant despite the fact that a large amount of law enforcement officers attend these shows out of uniform on their own time.

He is in effect accusing many, many law enforcement officers of turning a blind eye to this.

He offers no proof, and even the examples he provides could be perfectly legal activity.

If the media were honest and competent, he would be ignored due to lack of credibility. However, the media is neither honest or competent when dealing with the issue of guns and gun laws.

[Smokin' Joe]

The recent study by Garen Wintemute, director of the violence-prevention research program at the University of California, Davis, contends that police presence at the shows is too small to discourage illegal activity

Yeah, but the numbnut left out all the vendors and customers who are packing. As if the cops are the potential perpetrator's biggest worry at a gunshow!