Posted on 01/13/2014 4:41:08 AM PST by harpu
A regular gun show that has been a staple of Austin, Texas, since 2010 will end this month because its organizer refuses to obey local Democrats’ demands for background checks that go beyond state and federal laws.
“It is not really my job to infringe on anyone’s rights,” said Todd Beiter, the owner of Saxet Gun Shows, which has hosted gun shows at the Travis County Exposition Center for four years, according to the Austin American-Satesman.
The gun show set for Jan. 25-26 will go on because it has a lease on the site. The show won’t be held next year, though, because the contract will not be renewed.
At issue is the Travis County Commission Court’s demand that Saxet require background checks for private sales at the gun show.
Federally licensed gun dealers must already perform background checks – to make sure potential buyers aren’t felons prohibited from owning guns – but private citizens don’t have undergo the screenings. That wasn’t good enough for the Travis County Commissioners Court (four Democrats, one Republican), which demanded the 10 percent of guns purchased at the show by private citizens be submitted to a background check, too.
“If you use a public facility to sell guns, we really oughta have background checks done. Or don’t use the facility,” County Judge Sam Biscoe, the commission’s chairman, told the American-Statesman.
The Texas State Rifle Association says the Democratic commissioners are going too far. Alice Tripp, a lobbyist for the rifle association, called the background check demand “political.”
“Saxet Gun Shows operate by state and federal law. That has never been in question,” Tripp said, according to the American-Statesman. “The only person that would be harmed by this county commissioners’ requirement is Todd Beiter, the owner of Saxet Gun Shows.”
The Democrats of Travis County have been on a tear against gun rights along with their liberal fellow travelers in the rest of the country. Last year, they courted a legal fight with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott – a leading contender to succeed Gov. Rick Perry – when they tried to close the so-called “gun-show loophole” on background checks.They backed down after Abbott detailed the state’s position.
“If Austin or Travis Co. try to ban gun shows they better be ready for a double-barreled lawsuit,” Abbott wrote in a tweet.
“Come on down sometime, I’ll take you to our rifle club.”
Is that the Austin Rifle Club? I used to belong there when I lived in TX. Every once in a while you had to shoo some cows off the range.
Yeah, that’s it. We solved the cow problem for the most part though.
Austinistan, liberal island in a sea of red! We put all our stupid libs in one place here in Texas. Keeps the rest of the state clean.
I get what the author is saying in the article, but I could have done without the hyperbole.
“Yeah, that’s it. We solved the cow problem for the most part though.”
I used to try and get out there at least twice a month except when it was 120 degrees. Do they still have the monthly silhouette matches?
• Requiring all gun show sellers to be federal firearms licensees
• Requiring unlicensed sellers to undergo federal background check procedures for private transfers
“”””Resident David Thomas said Travis County must use its authority to keep citizens safe.
“Background checks do work to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill,” he said. “So the county, through its commissioners acting for all of its citizens, must set standards for a gun show to be allowed to do business on public property. Standards take nothing away from anyone’s rights.”””””
Well those background checks didn’t do much for that nutjob in Colorado a month or so ago. He bought his shotgun legally at a gunstore with a background check. He must have missed the memo on the no murdering part.
We need to throw these facts in their faces when the background check issue comes up. Loudly and often
Yeah, there are several kinds of matches going on almost every weekend. IDPA,silhouette,3 gun, etc...
And then there's Houston...
That’s funny right there.
I do believe that Texas has preemptions against this type of thing. If private sales without background checks are not restricted by state law, they cannot be restricted locally.
He cited the tragedies at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. and in Aurora, Colo. that have pointed out glaring flaws in gun laws and how easy it is for people to have access deadly weapons, he said.
Col. Travis would probably interject, Remember the Alamo!
Sounds like Abbott needs to be loading that double barrel lawsuit...
THe Berkley/San Francisco of Texas.
A regular gun show that has been a staple of Austin, Texas, since 2010 So, for literally ones of years.
my laugh of the day. Just SAXET has been 4 years but Austin has had a gun show once a month since I lived there back in the 80's.
Or the Cedar Park Center (in Williamson County as well).
The best description I have ever heard about Austin is:
The bastion of communism on the Colorado River.
the stench of Austin’s liberalism floats all the way up into central Texas.
The operator of this gun show is missing a bet. He should change the theme of the gun show to being a political event supporting gun rights, as well as supporting and fund raising for elective opponents of these commissioners.
LOL, know what you mean. The TX chest beaters are no where to be found. Frankly, TX has its large share of tards just like the rest of the country....sadly. That said, NY still sucks big time. :)
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