Many state leaders as well as the gun show's organizer are heading to Sacramento on Tuesday. They hope to have their voices heard. Those I spoke with Sunday believe the way to curb gun violence is by curbing gun shows, like the one held this weekend at the Cow Palace.
State Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, has proposed legislation that would require joint approval from both San Mateo County and San Francisco boards of supervisors before gun shows could be held at the Cow Palace.
The bill would not outright ban gun shows, but it places control at the county level to allow the events.
Local gun owners say they shouldn't have to travel miles and miles for an event, noting that inconveniencing those doing the "right thing" simply isn't fair.
Senator Leno says San Mateo and San Francisco counties are not alone in wanting to put a stop to gun shows.
"Alameda County, Marin County, Los Angeles County have all passed local ordinances banning gun shows on county property," Sen. Leno said. "This is just a strange unique situation that the state happens to own the property on which the Cow Palace sits."
"There are people that just want to protect themselves," gun owner Rachel said. "I'm on a cane now, I'm sick, I'm older, I can't run or duck or whatever. So, this is my choice, and this is what I'm going to try to do to protect myself." Senator Leno says that the only support for gun shows he has received is from the event promoter and event organizers.
I spoke with the organizer of the Crossroads of the West gun shows. He tells me that more than 10,000 people have attended the two-day event and that they will be back in June, where they expect the crowd to be even larger. That's because of proposed legislation working its way through that they believe targets gun owners.
