The dead aim of my local lawmakers is to shut down Maryland's only gun show operator, Silverado Promotions, which has held events at a local fairgrounds for a decade without incident. A U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics report on federal firearms offenders released last year reported that a mere 1.7 percent of crime guns are acquired at gun shows. Gun show bans aren't about promoting safety. They're about cracking down on the free speech and free assembly of law-abiding citizens who have a passion for exercising their Second Amendment rights. At gun shows across the country, hunters shop for equipment, buy books and swap tips.
Families browse historical exhibits, antiques, collectibles and war memorabilia.
And yes, people from all walks of life come to buy guns for recreation and self-defense. The real problem these gun bigots have is not with crime, but with the lawful civilian ownership of firearms. Krasner is considering litigation if the proposal passes. The law is on his side. Courts from California to Florida have held that gun-show transactions involve constitutionally protected commercial speech.