In the crosshairs

Annual event touts gun rights

October 23, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Alaska's formidable gun culture is on full display this weekend during the Alaska Gun Collectors Association Fall 2005 Gun Show at the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

Cowboy hats, holsters, hunting jackets and thousands of people - mostly men - carefully examined untold firearms and accessories. They came out for many different reasons, but bartering and deal-making was par for the day.

Some people arrived looking for antique Civil-War era muzzle-loaders, or handguns for self defense. Others had an eye for hunting rifles, ammunition or scopes. Through it all, guns were the unmistakable focus.

&#8220There is definitely a demand for these types of things,” said event organizer and AGCA board member Robert Hall. &#8220We've been doing this for over 25 years.”

Gun shows, which continue to be popular on a national level as well, are regularly criticized by gun-control advocates who say the events provide opportunities for criminals to buy guns without undergoing background checks. Gun-show enthusiasts, however, defend the gatherings as safe, legal events where licensed dealers, pawn shop owners, collectors or private individuals can buy, sell or trade their firearms.

&#8220There are a lot of people here who are into high-end guns, or specialty guns,” said Lt. Paul Honeman of the Anchorage Police Department.

Honeman was on hand Saturday to give an hour-long talk entitled, &#8220Refuse to be a victim.” The talk was an abbreviated version of a longer National Rifle Association seminar of the same name, which seeks to inform people how to use a gun to defend their lives or the lives of others.

Honeman said he supports gun shows as well as the recently enacted state law that allows people to carry concealed handguns without a special permit in all areas of the state.

Firearms are still prohibited in state courtrooms, court buildings, other justice-related agencies, school yards, child-care facilities, bars, domestic violence shelters or private homes of people who don't give permission.

&#8220Guns have been around for a long time, and the right to own a firearm is obviously protected by the Second Amendment,” Honeman said. &#8220It's not the gun that's the problem really. It's the person possessing the gun. That's what it boils down to.”

While Honeman tows the traditional gun-rights line when it comes to possessing firearms, he did say he thinks it is a good idea for gun owners to take safety and handling classes. Problems occur when people aren't prepared or informed about gun usage, he said.

&#8220The idea is to use a firearm like a tool,” Honeman added. &#8220Problems occur when you buy a weapon on a whim and don't know how to use it.”

Ultimately, though, Honeman said self defense is a critical aspect of gun rights.

&#8220Being able to defend yourself or others is important,” he explained. &#8220In most cases, violence happens in a matter of seconds, and the chance that you're going to have police come to your rescue in a moment's notice is pretty low.”

Aaron Shuler was one of hundreds of vendors Saturday. Unlike many of the other sellers, Shuler is a licensed firearms dealer and sold guns, primarily to people looking for self protection.

As a licensed dealer, Shuler must perform a background check every time he sells a gun, unless a person already has a gun permit on them. The checks involve a quick cell phone call, which takes a few minutes before letting him know whether to proceed with the sale, delay for a few days, or deny the sale.

Shuler said he supports

the background-check

law, even if it does inconvenience customers from time to time.

&#8220One person was delayed today,” he said. &#8220But that's OK. I'd rather have prohibited people denied access to guns in the first place.”

As for private dealers who are not in official business, they are not required to perform background checks at gun shows or any other place.

Shuler said there's often an unclear area, where it's difficult to tell if people are in business or just trying to get rid of a few guns.

&#8220There's definitely a gray area there,” he said. &#8220What's ‘in the business?' If I bring out 50 guns, I'm in the business.”

Event organizer Hall said he doesn't support background checks on private sellers because of enforcement problems.

&#8220How do you enforce that?” he said. &#8220Criminals don't go out and buy guns legally anyway. All you're doing is forcing the law on the law-abiding public.”

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266, or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.