Are Gun Shows Safe? Five Accidental Shootings at Gun Shows, Including Medina
Saturday's accidental shooting at the Medina Gun Show was the first in 35 years.
- By Susan Ruiz Patton
- Email the author
- January 21, 2013
On what was pitched as "Gun Appreciation Day," five people were shot and injured at three different gun shows across the country, including one in Medina.
The Huffington Post reported earlier this week that a handful of conservative groups declared Jan. 19 Gun Appreciation Day. It was also a day that many communities hosted gun shows where hunters, gun collectors and enthusiasts gather to buy and sell guns.
The Medina Gun Show has been an annual event since 1978, according to its website. Organizer Conrad & Dowell puts on gun shows at the Medina County Community Center throughout the year.
At Saturday's show, a vendor bought a handgun at the show and knew it was loaded, according to The Plain Dealer. The vendor aimed the gun away from people while trying to unload it and accidentally fired the gun at the concrete floor. The bullet ricocheted off the floor and hit the vendor's arm and leg, according to NewsNet5.
Saturday's accidental shooting was the first in 35 years, according to the Plain Dealer.
There are rules at the show to prevent accidents and the rules are prominently published on the show's website:
"For everyone’s safety, no loaded firearms are allowed in the building. All firearms brought into the building are checked to confirm they are not loaded and then “tied.” All firearms on exhibitor’s tables are restrained in some way. Guns are restrained by being in a glass case, by rope or wire tied. All State and Federal firearms laws are vigorously enforced. You must be 18 years old to purchase a long gun and 21 years old to purchase a handgun."
But somehow somebody handled a loaded weapon and somebody got hurt.
So the question is, have you ever been to a gun show? Do you think they are safe? Could they be safer? How?
Trisha Lynn Dragon
1:11 am on Monday, January 21, 2013
Gun shows don't kill people guns do. Oh wait no, it's uh...well it's not the NRA's fault. We do know that. Everything else is apparently up for negotiation for sale to the highest bidder. Same diff.
You have to admit it's pretty moronic to shoot yourself at an event meant to show guns are no threat in the hands of "non criminals" (as far as they let us know anyway). You'd think they would be hyper vigilant about safety right about now.
Nobody is dead, thats what matters.
I think we may finally have something for the opposing sides to agree on!! Moron's. Both sides have them and they screw up everything.
Maybe those of us in the middle of the road can work out a moron exchange program. Won't solve anything, but it should be entertaining.
Dan Boone
6:46 am on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Gun shows have been going on in MEDINA since 1978, first time someone has been accidentally injured. That's a pretty OUTSTANDING RECORD, hell more people are injured in the building that event is held in during the Medina County Fair! Give it a rest people it was an accident, I'm sure the dealer involved is mortified and happy he was the one injured and not a show goer. Give it a rest.
bob lang
4:09 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
How about the other four people who were shot at two other gun shows on the same day?