Preventing criminals from obtaining guns is everyone's goal. It can still be valuable even though fewer than 2 percent of criminal guns originated from gun shows. Yet, Amendment 22, which Coloradoans will be voting on in November, has little to do with gun shows, and will not stop criminals from obtaining guns. Yet, that is not correct. Registered dealers must fill out the same forms and meet the same requirements regardless of where they sell a gun.
Private transfers are unregulated, but they are unregulated both inside and outside a gun show.
Such a law will not stop criminals. The only people who will obey this kind of law are law-abiding citizens. When people realize this, there will be calls for licensing and registration to let the government track transfers. Unfortunately, such cumbersome measures are only going to increase crime, not decrease it. The reason is simple.