Posted on January 4, 2014
This Tuesday, January 7, the Travis County Commissioners Court is scheduled to consider and vote on whether to allow Saxet Gun Shows to continue holding events at the Travis County Expo Center in 2014 and beyond.
Saxet Gun Shows have been held in the Austin area for over twenty years, are well-run and well-attended, and generate over $100,000 in revenue for the county annually. The Saxet Gun Shows are a staple of the gun owning community, and now their future in Austin is seriously threatened.
The Expo Center is the only viable facility in Travis County for these events. Gun control advocates are pushing the Commissioners Court to either refuse to renew the contract with Saxet’s promoter to use it, which would effectively ban gun shows in TravisCounty, or require that all transactions at Saxet events be conducted through federal firearm licensed dealers (FFLs). Requirements like these would effectively ban all private gun transfers at these shows.
In other words, if they can’t ban gun shows in the Austin area outright, they are demanding that the county impose restrictions on firearms sales at Saxet Gun Shows over and above what is required by both state and federal law.
The Travis County Commissioners Court will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, at the following location:
Commissioners Courtroom
Travis County Administration Building
700 Lavaca Street
Austin, Texas 78701
If you care about the future of gun shows in Austin, please attend this meeting and urge county commissioners to renew the contract with Saxet, with no ineffective gun control strings attached. Talking points are provided below on how and why restrictions on private transfers will do nothing to reduce crime.