Costa Mesa Gun Show

[NOTABIKER]

I know Sunday was a big NFL day but it was alarming how poorly it was attended. got their around 9:45. and it was very quiet. About 2/3 of the normal vendors. I like gun shows and i hope it does not go away.
Also less people at my local gun range [ WEGC ]. last time i was their.
Few young people at the gun show mostly older NRA types [ me ].
I think the left is winning the battle for hearts and minds over gun control.
All my TV gun shows also gone. Only on sportsman channel.

[ARDude]

Sadly, I think gun shows in Ca are are going to be gone in a year. Unless something changes.

[jarhead714]

Did you at least go to Frank’s for a cheesesteak sangwich?

[Uncivil Engineer]

I don't know if this speaks to the left winning against gun culture or acknowledging they have won by making gun shows obsolete. I mean what's the point of going to a gun show where you can't buy guns? Once cash and carry was gone this was inevitable. If we had instant background checks and no wait, maybe limited to current owners there might be a reason to go. Not to say I would be happy about it but it would be a minimum to keep gun shows alive.

As for losing the culture war, I suspect the left haven't done as well as you might suggest. One thing they have done is teach an entire generation that if you don't like laws, just ignore then until they change to your favor. I'm looking at immigration, drugs, but even things like Uber and Lyft. Along these lines when you look at people that are buying 80%s a good number of them are younger people. I'm not suggesting to break the law rather more to just opt out of the BS the state has done. In addition while the left has gone all out against "assault weapons" they are losing ground on other fronts. I have met many liberals that are fully supportive of banning "assault weapons", mostly based on disinformation but are interested in skeet, trap or even hand gun training. That suggest to me that handgun control Inc, er Brady has failed remarkably.

I would suggest if you are distraught over losing your local gun show you should do two things. First join a local gun club, preferably one that has some open range days. Enjoy hanging out with like minded people but also try to get a few more over to our side. Finally learn to use the internet to find gun deals. Gun shows have been under attack by misinformation and that isn't going to turn around. So take your business to the web. If you like small shops there are plenty there, if you need deals again there are more than enough. The days of walking into a show for free then going home with a MAK 90 for $300 are over. But have to seen the complete milspec AR kits for less than $300 on sale? Given inflation we are far ahead.

[Rifle ronin]

If they F'N would charge less for parking and entrance fees, I would go for the jerky the fake tasers.

[wolfmann]

The problem as I see it is the overwhelming junk sellers at the shows,granted there have always been junk sellers but they were small in numbers.
For all the older people here NEVER FORGET the Pomona Gun Show,8 miles of tables no joke where you could find anything.

[AlHO1966]

Plain and simple gun shows in CA are full of junk and simply not worth it. Unless you’re a huge fan of jerky or looking at table after table of Ar uppers I can’t see the point in going to one. After paying the parking and cost to get in the ammo purchases aren’t even worth it.

[Baldy Mesa]

I'll keep going because I just can't let another part of my life be ground away. I don't attend every nearby show, but Sunday was a day that I had no real excuse not to go. I do believe that the vendors should make a legitimate effort to help themselves and put some real deals on the tables. Be nice if people started showing up on Sunday because of a product or service they heard about on Saturday.

And, our local ranges - I mean all of them, indoor and outdoor, should buy a table or two. Run some videos of the types of competitions they provide, ask for suggestions from the shooting public about what they would like to see at their locations.

Try and get the BLM to come out and give a talk about their rules, maybe provide a rationale for the closures. It would be nice to see Backcountry Hunters and similar organizations show up.

I know, I know, sounds naive and unworkable. But if even a couple of these things succeed, we could see better attendance and promote the sport.

[ysr_racer]

Frank's Philly for the win !!

[ysr_racer]

If they F'N would charge less for parking and entrance fees, I would go for the jerky the fake tasers.

Parking fees, entry fees, and over priced guns?

No thank you.

[Coca-Cola777]

and have more guns for sale than beef jerky and coffee and cheap gadgets/toys that would be a good start - nothing like the 80's Pomona/Anaheim gun shows, they'll never be that good again!

[TrailerparkTrash]

I vaguely remember the reason why you see all the jerky, turquoise jewelry, crap, junk, trinkets and such was due to some civil suit court case many many years ago. I remember reading about it and that some gun show producer was sued. In a nut shell, the court ruled that those "salvage sellers" had a right to be there too and now you know the rest of the story about gun shows going down hill.

I want to say this was in the late 80's or early 90's when the gun shows had to succumb to junk sellers being allowed to sell their crap.

[BigPimping]

I don't even know where Costa Mesa is?

Is it near my plush lair on the hilltop?

[racinjason233]

I don't even know where Costa Mesa is?

Is it near my plush lair on the hilltop?