Title: Inside Gun Shows: What Goes On When Everybody Thinks Nobody’s Watching: Epilogue

Publication Date: March 2010

What does it say?

This report provides an epilogue to a study of 78 gun shows in 19 states published in September 2009. In February 2010, researcher Garen Wintemute returned to the Crossroads of the West gun show at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix and provided an update for each observation made in prior years at the show. 

His observations indicate that problematic activities at this gun show appear to have been reduced, although many problems remain.

For example:

• the “no background check” private sale marketplace, formerly at the entrance to the show, has disappeared
• private sale vendors have switched to selling under a license (thereby requiring a background check)
• some licensed sellers who engaged in straw purchases (“good guys” buying for “bad guys”) are gone
• the selection of guns has gotten smaller at some licensed dealers
• racist commentary about President Obama and others has disappeared.

Wintemute suggests several theories about why these changes may have occurred:

• ATF has expanded enforcement efforts in the Southwest
• studies of gun shows have exposed illegal and questionable activity
• local TV news coverage, including an interview with the Crossroads promoter (who is also the head of the National Association of Arms Shows) has drawn attention to the gun show
• the Obama buying panic is ending
• February is a lull period for gun sales.

Wintemute concludes that the disappearance of the central marketplace for undocumented private gun sales “may reduce the ability of gun shows at the Arizona State Fairgrounds to serve as an efficient source of guns for criminal use.”  Yet, the gun show itself appeared to be thriving despite these changes.  Whether these changes are isolated to this gun show and/or are stable remains to be seen. 

How can I use it?

Gun show promoters and sellers may curb illegal and questionable activity at their gun shows under pressure from law enforcement and because of public scrutiny.  Consistent with earlier research, reducing problematic sales at gun shows does not hurt the gun show business.   Congress needs to close the gun show loophole to reduce illegal and questionable activity at gun shows.

Citation

Wintemute, Garen, Inside Gun Shows: What Goes On When Everybody Thinks Nobody's Watching: Epilogue, Violence Prevention Research Program, University of California at Davis: Sacramento, California, March 2010

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