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Gun Shows

Gun shows are widely attended by Americans interested in firearms for defensive purposes, hunting, sports, recreation and historical significance.

In the 1990s, gun control supporters began claiming that criminals were commonly acquiring guns at shows. However, studies by the federal government have repeatedly shown that less than one percent of state prison inmates incarcerated for gun crimes acquired their guns at shows, while most acquired guns through theft, on the black market, or from family members or friends.

In the same period, gun control supporters began pushing federal legislation to require background checks on the relatively small number of people at shows who buy guns from people who are not dealers. Now, they demand a background check for any sale, trade, gift or other transfer of any firearm, anywhere, to anyone—in some cases, including family members or friends.

NRA opposes expansion of the background check system, because criminals easily get guns by other means and because expanding the background check requirement would be a step toward transforming the background check system into a national gun registry.

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Minnesota: House drops bill criminalizing all private transfers, keeps gun show restrictions

The farthest reaching gun control bill in the Minnesota House, which would have expanded background checks to nearly ...

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Monday, March 18, 2013

New Mexico: Senate approves gun show check bill

A proposal to require criminal background checks of more people who buy firearms at gun shows has cleared ...

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

California: Glendale moves toward gun show ban in vote next week

The Glendale City Council has indicated that it will ban gun shows.Before Tuesday night's decision, the attorney for ...

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Friday, March 8, 2013

California: Bill would effectively end gun shows at Cow Palace

Gun shows at the Cow Palace would need the approval of officials in San Francisco and San Mateo ...

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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Washington: House committee approves private sale ban

Lawmakers in the state House are moving ahead with a plan to expand background checks to private gun ...

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lott: The truth on background checks

Gun control "deserves a vote," President Obama said time and again in his State of the Union speech ...

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Lott: Obama's proposals won't reduce gun violence

Warning that we need to "get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets," in his ...

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

New Mexico: Lawmakers consider mandatory background checks at gun shows

A criminal background check will be required for more people buying firearms at gun shows under legislation before ...

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Friday, February 8, 2013

House Democrats to unveil gun control package; mirrors Obama's

Top Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled a broad proposal on Thursday to curb gun violence ...

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Monday, February 4, 2013

Vermont: Lawmakers pushing restrictions

A group of Vermont lawmakers is pushing legislation that would ban large capacity ammunition feeding devices on guns ...

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NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.