It is an important goal even though fewer than 2 percent of criminal guns originate from gun shows. Yet, Measure 5 has little to do with gun shows and will not stop criminals from obtaining guns. Claims about a loophole have convinced many people that the rules for buying a gun at a gun show are different from buying a gun elsewhere. That is false. 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.
If the initiative passes and private transfers at gun shows are regulated in the same way as the sales by registered dealers, the initiative's advocates will next complain about a new loophole, private transfers outside of shows. Even the authors of the initiative apparently realize that even these broad gun transfer checks will not stop criminals who don't want their transfers monitored. The reason is simple. First, criminals very rarely leave their guns at the scene of the crime. Would-be criminals also virtually never register their weapons.