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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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Gun Show Restriction Bill Pre-Filed in Advance of New Mexico Legislature's 2016 Session

Monday, December 21, 2015

Gun Show Restriction Bill Pre-Filed in Advance of New Mexico Legislature's 2016 Session

Once again, anti-gun state Representative Miguel Garcia (D-Bernalillo) has pre-filed a measure in the New Mexico Legislature which criminalizes ...

Roll Call  

Monday, December 21, 2015

Obama Poised to Tighten Gun Laws After Holidays

Senior congressional aides and sources in the gun-control community expect the White House to use its executive powers ...

Los Angeles Times  

Monday, December 21, 2015

Obama plans to act unilaterally on gun control

After years of fruitless battles with Congress, Obama has repeatedly taken sweeping action himself, most notably on immigration ...

Associated Press  

Friday, December 11, 2015

White House to seek expanded background checks

President Barack Obama's advisers are finalizing a proposal that would expand background checks on gun sales without congressional ...

New York Times  

Monday, December 7, 2015

On Guns, Obama Cannot Easily Sidestep Congress

In the hours after the San Bernardino rampage, President Obama reiterated the plea for “common sense gun safety ...

Los Angeles Times  

Thursday, December 3, 2015

White House plans executive action to criminalize private transfers

White House officials are seeking a way to use executive authority to close the so-called gun show loophole ...

CT Mirror  

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

With Congress deadlocked, Conn. senators press Obama on gun checks

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Chris Murphy and other gun control advocates have switched their focus from Congress to the ...

USA Today  

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Tennessee: NRA enters debate on gun shows at fairgrounds

The nation’s largest lobbying organization for gun rights has come to the aid of gun shows held at ...

The Washington Post  

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Maryland: Gun show returns to Upper Marlboro, despite reluctance from park agency

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission did not want to host the gun show that is expected ...

Washington Post  

Monday, October 19, 2015

Washington Post gives Hillary Clinton 3 Pinnochios for claim that 40 percent of guns are sold at gun shows and over the Internet without background checks

Washington Post: "By any reasonable measure, Clinton’s claim that 40 percent of guns are sold at gun shows ...

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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.