This Massive Florida Gun Show Is NRA Heaven [PHOTOS]
Not far from Tampa, the largest gun show in the southeast is held at this massive convention center.
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The show starts at 9 a.m., but it doesn't take very long for the parking lot to fill up with gun enthusiasts, who pay $11 for admission.
Many bring guns in, often to sell. They need to have their guns "checked" to ensure they don't have any ammo, and the show staff zip ties it so it cannot fire.
After walking through the doors, you can see "largest show in the Southeast" probably isn't false advertising.
Dealers like "Shoot Straight" bring plenty of brand new weapons to these shows.
And they offer pricing they say is lower than in their store. Tables are filled with rifles ...
... and more rifles, and shotguns ...
... And pistols. Most are held down by cables so they cannot be stolen.
Some have weird color schemes.
They also bring a ton of ammo.
There were plenty of dealers in attendance ...
... And when a sale is made, buyers needs to fill out paperwork and go through a background check.
They're warned against being "straw purchasers" — people that legally purchase a gun intent on giving it to someone who can't, like a convicted felon.
But the big entrepreneurs of the gun show are not dealers. They are regular people making a few bucks selling their wares ...
Like classic Colt 1911 .45 caliber handguns ...
... or older, antique weapons that interest collectors.
Here are some others.
Tables are often a mixture of weaponry and weird items of the past.
Inside a case with guns was this Sheriff's badge from Lincoln County, N.M. — known for the 1878 "Lincoln County War" involving Billy the Kid and others that was immortalized in the "Young Guns" film.
Many tables also have military memorabilia and historical items ...
... especially stuff from WWII.
If the military used it in war, it's probably here. That includes medical kits, bayonets, helmets, and canteens.
These are caps from the Nazi SS, a paramilitary unit that served as Hitler's guard force.
In Florida and many other states, high capacity magazines can be legally purchased, although even the president has called for their ban.
Source: Policymic
You can even find body armor. The man selling these had tons of military stuff, since he operated an Army-Navy store.
Gun show politics aren't subtle.
Many sport t-shirts in response to what they see as an attack on their 2nd amendment rights from the gun control crowd.
For gun enthusiasts, this doormat along with a handgun are a good home security system.
And with thousands in attendance, the NRA capitalizes on this enthusiasm with a recruiting pitch over the loudspeaker: "If you are not an NRA member, you need to join today.”
But the gun show is much more than just guns.
There are of course, thousands of them ...
... but knives are everywhere.
Like a "Bowie" (pronounced Boo-ee) knife with the face of the man it's named after.
If you need some throwing stars, you've come to the right place.
Maybe a slingshot.
Or how about some grenades (don't worry, they don't work). When asked whether they had any real ones, one man said jokingly, “We used them all this morning. They’re great for fishing.”
Another seller offered targets that featured realistic-looking blood when shot. “To complement those, we also have these exploding targets," he told me, as he pointed to jugs of Tannerite, a legal substance that explodes only when shot with a rifle bullet.
Every few minutes, a zapping sound would come from a man selling stun-guns. “Hit someone with one of these and they’ll be on the ground in half-a-second," he said, while demonstrating his 10-million volt hybrid flashlight/stun gun.
Perhaps the most controversial facet of the gun show are people selling guns to each other in private.
Many walk around the show with signs listing what they have for sale.
These two were trying to find a buyer for their rifles.
Unlike guns sold by dealers, private sellers are not required to do background checks on buyers. Gun control advocates call this the "gun-show loophole" and they've been trying to close it for years.
The pro-gun side fears that legislation could lead toward banning private firearms sales between individuals altogether. Still, the idea of universal background checks — now strongly opposed — was once supported by the NRA.
Source: NCPA / Washington Monthly
Other weapons are on the gun control radar as well. These AK and AR-based weapons are classified as pistols although they fire the same size round as their big brothers.
And they look basically the same, except they don't have a rifle stock.
While most of the attendees are male ...
... there are some items marketed to women. These are concealed carry purses, which come with a built-in pocket to store a handgun.
With many states adopting concealed carry laws, manufacturers have been making guns small enough to fit inside a pocket ...
... which could never be spotted unless taken out.
In many states, you need to have a permit if you want to carry a concealed handgun. That includes Florida.
And most shows offer training. After $90 and only a few hours, attendees learn the basics, shoot a few rounds, and get all the paperwork they need to get their permit to be legally armed in public.
You've seen a gun show ....
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