Proposal to close gun show loophole provokes disagreement in Texas, Fort Worth

By Anna M. Tinsley and Scott Nishimura

atinsley@star-telegram.com, snishimura@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Each year countless guns change hands at thousands of guns shows nationwide -- including quite a few in North Texas.

But the way those guns are sold could soon change if President Barack Obama and gun control advocates succeed in closing the "gun show loophole" that has been hotly debated for years as criminal justice officials explore ways to keep weapons out of the wrong hands.

Anyone buying a gun from a licensed dealer at a gun show -- such as those often held in Fort Worth -- must go through a background check. But more than two dozen states, including Texas, allow private weapon sales at gun shows with no background checks.

"Mechanisms should be in place to make sure we know who is buying these guns," said state Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth, a longtime critic of using public facilities for gun shows.

"In general, I have been in favor of closing the loophole for a long time.

"I don't think it would hurt."

But some gun-toting Texans say they hope Obama doesn't go too far, starting with Gov. Rick Perry.

"Gov. Perry has made it clear that he believes the last thing our nation needs is a knee-jerk reaction from Washington on the issue of guns," said Catherine Frazier, a spokeswoman for the governor's office.

Past proposals to close the gun show loophole in Congress -- touted as a "common-sense measure" -- have died.

Critics of those proposals argue that it's a bad idea. "Individuals have a right to sell their individual private property," Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson -- a gun-rights champion -- has told the Star-Telegram. "I'm not responsible for what someone does with something I sell them. I should not be required to do a background check on someone I plan to sell a car, or a gun, to."

But state Rep.-elect Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, said he believes closing the loophole is reasonable.

"I think we should have background checks for all gun purchases," Turner said. "I think the American public expects that. We want to know when someone purchases a gun, there's no criminal or other history that would prevent them from buying it."

Fort Worth debate

The most recent major gun show debate locally was in Fort Worth in 2000, when city leaders considered putting more restrictions on gun shows at city facilities.

Fort Worth officials talked for months about proposals such as encouraging federal lawmakers to require background checks at gun shows and restricting the leasing of city facilities for gun shows so that only licensed dealers could sell firearms.

The measure failed and gun shows are still held on city property, such as Will Rogers Memorial Center, generating thousands of dollars a year in city revenue.

The Fort Worth Gun Show -- where everything from used and new firearms to swords, hunting gear and ammunition is for sale -- will be held there this weekend. At these shows, attendees can buy or sell firearms and other merchandise.

Fort Worth has 12 gun shows scheduled at Will Rogers during the 2013 fiscal year, which ends next September.

Half are operated by the Original Fort Worth Gun Show, and the other half by Lone Star Gun Show.

Rental revenue to the city is a projected at $212,500 for the year, and projected attendance is 116,000.

Burnam also said he doesn't think cities should profit from gun shows.

"I am opposed to municipal facilities serving as a venue for weapons trafficking," he said. "We have a serious problem of three types of trafficking -- drugs, humans and weapons. We need to get a handle on all three of them."

And he said he doesn't believe closing the gun show loophole will infringe on Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"We have a fundamental right to move around in this country but we strictly regulate the use of automobiles and we force people to go through scanners to fly on a plane," he said. "We have a right to regulate access to guns. I don't know if we have the political will to do so in Texas."

'Poor state of mental healthcare'

Mayor Betsy Price, a hunter, issued a statement in response to a question from the Star-Telegram about the gun show loophole.

"The thoughts and prayers of Fort Worth continue to be with the people of Newtown as they cope with an unimaginable loss," she said. "It's natural that such a horrible tragedy would bring the issue of gun control to the surface again."

But, Price continued, "what we really need to be talking about is the poor state of mental healthcare in our nation. With respect to the president's proposals on guns, gun shows, or my personal position on gun control; I believe we should always preserve the rights of law-abiding citizens to own guns to protect themselves and their families."

Councilman Sal Espino said, "In light of the recent tragic shootings, our country should explore reasonable options on gun safety."

Asked whether he thinks the gun show loophole needs to be reviewed, he said, "background checks on gun purchasers is reasonable."

Anna M. Tinsley, 817-390-7610; Twitter: @annatinsley

Scott Nishimura, 817-390-7808; Twitter: @JScottNishimura

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