We were at a Charlotte gun show just before the 1994 gun law was to start.A man came in with a Glock ,scared the ATF would be at his house on the following Monday.He sold it to my buddy for $250.00 with box,extra mag.,and ammo.Another man came in with a Springfield P9 .Another one of my buddies offered him $325.00 which he refused.I followed him down the aisle and offered him $280.00.He took it.Go figure. Has anyone been at a gunshow when someone accidently fired off a round? I have not but I have heard of it.
Gun Show Stories
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Dyerbill
Member
Crown Point In show and a rifle go off.....7.62x39........very lucky.
bravastar1
SWCA Member
I've been at two shows where a round has gone off. It sure gets quite for about 3 seconds.
I have been at several shows where guns were shot. One in Atlanta back in 2001 where someone was killed in the aisle across from me. Another where I had one of my powder cans shot.
At every show I see people walking around with their finger on a trigger. Guns are not just merchandise, they are deadly weapons. We need to remember that. It's surprising to me that there isn't more of this stuff than there is.
At every show I see people walking around with their finger on a trigger. Guns are not just merchandise, they are deadly weapons. We need to remember that. It's surprising to me that there isn't more of this stuff than there is.
Peter J.
Member
I have seen four guns fired off at gunshows. Three handguns and one rifle. Fortunatly nobody hit. I think the one in Atlanta was a 10 year old kid that was killed. Standing next to his dad when a dealer selling holsters was demonstrating how nice a Detective special fit in one of his holsters when the revolver fired off. Very horrible, very scary.
bubbiesdad
Member
Shouldn't that be,
"Standing next to his dad when a dealer selling holsters was demonstrating how nice a Detective special fit in one of his holsters when the idiot pulled the trigger".
Remember, guns do not just go off.
A few years ago, I had just entered the Tulsa show and heard a shot go off. Turns out a vendor loaded a .410 with what he thought was a snap cap, but in reality was a full length brass shell. No one was seriously injured, just minor injuries from shot bouncing off the floor. Naturally, the media made a bigger deal out of it than it was, and the vendor was arrested and detained for the day. I don't know the legal outcome, but I heard the vendor was banned from the gun show for life.
David LaPell
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I have never been at a show where a gun went off, but inside of a shop. Some doof was playing around with a rifle and brought a .22 to see if it would fit in the gun. It did. He got tossed right quick out the door. I have worked at a couple of gun shows where I have seen someone try to load a round from their pocket into a gun to see if it would chamber or work according to them. The gun was taken away and they were told to go pound sand. I remember being in a gun shop and picking up a Walther PPK from behind a rack and like I always do, I drop the mag to make sure its unloaded and empty. I racked the slide and out popped a live round. I handed it to the shop owner. He got quite upset because someone he knew was playing with that gun not 30 minutes before. He called the guy at his house and chewed him out big time.
I hope I never have to be at a show where someone bangs off a round. I have seen enough at other places to last me.
I hope I never have to be at a show where someone bangs off a round. I have seen enough at other places to last me.
Mule88
Member
About 20 yrs ago in Dayton. Someone pulled the trigger on a gun at one of the dealers tables , probably about 4 rows from me and the gun went off. Everyone just froze. No one was hit, but the dealer was so shaken, he packed up and left the show. never did hear how the round found its way in the gun. a very bad situation.
rburg
Member
Getting banned for life is the typical punishment. I'm not sure how they police it, or how long life really is. Maybe the life of the show. The promoter surely doesn't want them back within memory.
All promoters aren't created equally, either. I don't ever hold to my swearing I'll never go back. But 10 years was the time I remained away from the last show I heard a gunshot. It was the Goodman show up in Dayton, OH. A buddy wanted to go so we made a road trip. We were near the middle of the main floor when we heard it. Its kind of an interesting event. A floor in a 600 table gun show goes from chaos and chatter to dead silence in an instant. Better still, you can tell the training the attendees have received. About half hit the deck, the other half pivot in the direction the shot came from.
Then everyone checks himself out for bullet holes and leakage.
At that show we wandered back over to the scene of the crime. A black guy with a trench coat had walked in. When asked if he had a gun he just lied. Then walked down the front of the building asking every vendor if they wanted to buy a gun. When they got to the end table the good old boy asked what he had. So he pulled out his 25, dumped the magazine an snapped it at the floor. Except it didn't just snap. The real problem was the bullet came up off the floor and hit a girl in the leg. It didn't penetrate the skin or levi's, but it hurt.
The first order of business was keeping the boyfriend from killing the shooter. Almost everybody thought they should have let him. But Goodman was a jerk and didn't prosecute the guy. Dayton's finest arrived without much delay. The problem was they didn't see the convicted felon with the gun, having the rent-a-cops already securing the weapon. So they put the game on the promoters shoulders. He could prosecute for trespass, but he'd have to come back to town to testify. He declined. Which was how we felt about his gunshows. I'm sure it wasn't worth his time, and it would have just been a misdemeanor.
The message he sent was much worse.
And then there was the country gun show down in Corbin, KY about 30 years ago. We drove up to gunfire. Heard more as we parked and walked over to the entrance. When we asked what all the noise was about the guy taking the money was undisturbed. He said he guessed somebody wanted to test fire a gun they were looking at. Yep, that was it. Out the back door into a hillside just beyond. Worked well for them. Its why everyone likes country gun shows.
I've been to a few "barn sales" where the same thing was going on. A buyer wanted to see how a shotgun worked, so they walked over to a hayfield, loaded it up and threw a clay pigeon out for the buyer to shoot. Then the owner had to show it off a little, too. Truth be known, I think they were all having a good time. To the shock of a few folks at first. Just boys havin' fun. Another time a guy wanted to test fire a 22 down at a crick. Its no big deal. Its Kentucky, everyone here shoots guns.
All promoters aren't created equally, either. I don't ever hold to my swearing I'll never go back. But 10 years was the time I remained away from the last show I heard a gunshot. It was the Goodman show up in Dayton, OH. A buddy wanted to go so we made a road trip. We were near the middle of the main floor when we heard it. Its kind of an interesting event. A floor in a 600 table gun show goes from chaos and chatter to dead silence in an instant. Better still, you can tell the training the attendees have received. About half hit the deck, the other half pivot in the direction the shot came from.
Then everyone checks himself out for bullet holes and leakage. At that show we wandered back over to the scene of the crime. A black guy with a trench coat had walked in. When asked if he had a gun he just lied. Then walked down the front of the building asking every vendor if they wanted to buy a gun. When they got to the end table the good old boy asked what he had. So he pulled out his 25, dumped the magazine an snapped it at the floor. Except it didn't just snap. The real problem was the bullet came up off the floor and hit a girl in the leg. It didn't penetrate the skin or levi's, but it hurt.
The first order of business was keeping the boyfriend from killing the shooter. Almost everybody thought they should have let him. But Goodman was a jerk and didn't prosecute the guy. Dayton's finest arrived without much delay. The problem was they didn't see the convicted felon with the gun, having the rent-a-cops already securing the weapon. So they put the game on the promoters shoulders. He could prosecute for trespass, but he'd have to come back to town to testify. He declined. Which was how we felt about his gunshows. I'm sure it wasn't worth his time, and it would have just been a misdemeanor.
The message he sent was much worse.
And then there was the country gun show down in Corbin, KY about 30 years ago. We drove up to gunfire. Heard more as we parked and walked over to the entrance. When we asked what all the noise was about the guy taking the money was undisturbed. He said he guessed somebody wanted to test fire a gun they were looking at.
Yep, that was it. Out the back door into a hillside just beyond. Worked well for them. Its why everyone likes country gun shows. I've been to a few "barn sales" where the same thing was going on. A buyer wanted to see how a shotgun worked, so they walked over to a hayfield, loaded it up and threw a clay pigeon out for the buyer to shoot. Then the owner had to show it off a little, too. Truth be known, I think they were all having a good time. To the shock of a few folks at first. Just boys havin' fun. Another time a guy wanted to test fire a 22 down at a crick. Its no big deal. Its Kentucky, everyone here shoots guns.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Many years ago I remember target practicing with a CHP under a freeway embankment.
The thing that bugs me most about shows around here is they require those little plastic tie things to hold the cylinder closed on revolvers. What does that accomplish? Well, it means people are picking guns up without checking to see if they're loaded (to me ALL guns are loaded, Rule #1, but I still check). Sure the dealer will cut them off if you want to examine it, but often people aren't serious about buying and they don't want to bother the dealer. Often the tie just keeps the cylinder closed and won't impede the hammer. It's totally useless and dangerous in my view.
A related rant, I was in a big box sporting goods store a few days ago and was wandering down the shotgun section. I see a young couple both holding shotguns. The woman laughs and sticks the muzzle in the guys belly and pulls the trigger.
I wanted to say something SO badly, but figured I'd better shut up and left.
This kind of activity is the reason gun owners are savaged by the anti-gun crowd.
A related rant, I was in a big box sporting goods store a few days ago and was wandering down the shotgun section. I see a young couple both holding shotguns. The woman laughs and sticks the muzzle in the guys belly and pulls the trigger.
I wanted to say something SO badly, but figured I'd better shut up and left. This kind of activity is the reason gun owners are savaged by the anti-gun crowd.
Last July I was no more than 100 ft away from a "dealer" that dropped the hammer on a .45. I think I hit the concrete floor faster than that slug. First time ever. Took about 3 days to get over the "constipation." I'm over it, but I pay more attention to folk's doings than I did before. Joe
I was at an OGCA show many years ago when around went off. That made EVERYONE a little nervous for a while.
The oddest ND I've ever heard about happened in Westerville, Ohio. There is a basement gun shop there and someone brought in a rifle for repair. Demonstrating the problem the customer pulled the trigger and the rifle discharged. The bullet went through the basement window, ricocheted off the cement window well, went through the second story window across the street and struck the Dentist working in the upstairs office in the head killing him.
The oddest ND I've ever heard about happened in Westerville, Ohio. There is a basement gun shop there and someone brought in a rifle for repair. Demonstrating the problem the customer pulled the trigger and the rifle discharged. The bullet went through the basement window, ricocheted off the cement window well, went through the second story window across the street and struck the Dentist working in the upstairs office in the head killing him.
I frequent Dan Aumiller's gun store every week and am happy to report that there is no window in the shop. And no dentist office across the street either. I'll ask him about it and get the skinny.
50 target
Member
Back in the late 70's and early 80's I was working gun shows selling Treadlock gun safes. Went to the Macon, Ga. show and set up on Sat.morning and no sooner got done and BANG. Went totally silent and the culprit was found and duly chastised. That got everyone real nervous. Went back Sunday and yep, same thing in another part of the show. That one was arrested. Didn't do much in sales on Sunday since it is hard to demonstrate the features of one when you are inside of it and won't come out. Of course everyone hung around my area for cover if there was another ND. It got so bad if somebody coughed or sneezed out loud, everybody ducked. Those two incidents made me realize not everyone is created equal when it comes to gray matter. I'm still cautious when I attend a show now. Thank the good Lord nobody was hurt either time. Bullets bounced off the floor and expended themselves off the ceiling and wound up on dealers tables. Only the washwoman and me know how bad it got to me.
Be safe out there everyone.
Be safe out there everyone.
Dans shop was originally in the section now used for reloading and there was a window well on the State Street side. The Dentist did stain glass as a hobby and in fact I think there are some stain glass windows on the Main Street side of Dans building that the Dentist did before Dan owned the building. This incident took place about 30 or 35 years ago but I'm sure Dan will enjoy reminiscing about such a happy event with you. And something that happened so long ago I may have some details wrong. I just checked with a friend who says the bullet did not hit someone in the second story window but an individual who was actually on the street.
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crsides
US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Mudcat100
Next time you go to the Charlotte gunshow at the merchandise mart, about mid way up the aisle, a third of the way over from the right wall, look up. You can see where the .223 round hit the ceiling about 20 yrs ago. I was one row over and a couple guys down the aisle. Got real quite. Will never forget the blue smoke hanging over the table.
Charlie
Next time you go to the Charlotte gunshow at the merchandise mart, about mid way up the aisle, a third of the way over from the right wall, look up. You can see where the .223 round hit the ceiling about 20 yrs ago. I was one row over and a couple guys down the aisle. Got real quite. Will never forget the blue smoke hanging over the table.
Charlie
Several years ago at a Greensboro, NC gun show, some moron had a Makarov and was looking for ammo for it. Wouldn't you know that this moron found a moron selling ammo. They were trying different ammo to see if any of it would chamber in the gun. Yep, one went off. Luckily, the muzzle was pointed at the floor. Like was said, it was total silence for a few seconds. A few seconds later, the police had escorted the gunman and the seller out of the building.
Many years ago at a hardware store in VA, a local guy brought in his Remington 700 Varmint in .222 to show the guys his new Timney trigger. He opened the floor plate and removed the rounds, opened the bolt, closed it and handed it across the counter to the guy there. This guy opened the bolt, worked the action, closed the bolt, and with the muzzle pointed toward the floor, squeezed the trigger. Yep, it put a round through the floor. After the action was cycled twice. I learned something that day, always look into the chamber.
Many years ago at a hardware store in VA, a local guy brought in his Remington 700 Varmint in .222 to show the guys his new Timney trigger. He opened the floor plate and removed the rounds, opened the bolt, closed it and handed it across the counter to the guy there. This guy opened the bolt, worked the action, closed the bolt, and with the muzzle pointed toward the floor, squeezed the trigger. Yep, it put a round through the floor. After the action was cycled twice. I learned something that day, always look into the chamber.
I was set up a a gunshow in Memphis several years ago. My tables where opposite the main entry along the back wall. Security (Retired LEO) was checking and zip tying everyones weapons. Security pulled the slide back on a 1911 and didn't check if there was a round in the magazine. He dropped the slide, put the tie through the trigger guard and around the grip, sinching it up good and tight with enough pressure to launch a round into the owners chest. Gun owner lived and sued the security company. Another ND I saw was at a SGS a friend of mine owned. Customer was having problems with 22-250 bolt rifle. Customer pulled the rifle from case and set it on the counter. The act of setting the rifle on the counter caused the rifle to fire. Slug went through three 1lb cans of powder, 1/4" glass and into the back of a coke machine sitting outside on the sidewalk. A 12 pack of coke lost it's life in that episode. Oh, the problem the owner was having with the rifle, other than having a malfunctioning rifle loaded in a soft case? He had done his own trigger job and it was going off with about 8 OUNCES of pressure.
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