In case you are unaware, the term gun show refers to a loophole in the U.S. and is a political term that referring to private sellers at gun shows; private knife collectors included. These knives and guns private sellers are not obligated to conduct a background check on firearms to independent buyers. The term may also be perceived as a gap within the law with regards to sales or transfers of firearms between private citizens.

Gun Show Loopholes Facts

Over 4,000 gun shows are held in the U.S. annually as stated in the report in January of 1999. Also reported is that 50-75% of gun show vendors are mostly “vendors who attend shows and sell these guns”. Citizens who are gun and knife enthusiasts who may sell the weapons at these types of shows may be good guys; a few crooked sellers could move a large quantity of firearms into high-risk hands. Those concerned about the shows believed they were a source of illegally trafficked firearms. Gun control advocates wanted to extend background check requirement to non-licensed firearms sellers at gun shows as well.

Over ten gun show loophole bills were presented in the U.S. House and the Senate between 2001 and 2013 but none were approved. Since January of 2015, there are 33 states in the U.S. that do not restrict the private sales of used firearms between individuals whether at gun shows or elsewhere. The U.S. capital and the other 17 states do, however require background checks for some or all private firearm sales.

The director of the Violence Prevention Research Program, Gern J. Wintemute, said, “The fundamental flaw in the gun show loophole proposal is its failure to address the great majority of isolated selling parties, which happen at different places and increasingly over the internet at sites where any non-prohibited person can list firearms for sale and buyers can search for independent selling parties”. The escape clause that has been formed from these types of shows, is now a part of a larger push for worldwide background checks to close federal loopholes on such checks at gun shows.

A background check plan for gun purchasers is both useless and excessive according to the National Rifle Association. The NRA says a more operative instant check system would include records of persons adjudicated mentally ill would prevent theoretically dangerous people from getting their hand on firearms.  As with all things, there may never be a concrete solution to crack down on these gun shows.