Redlevel says:
PhilO, I'm looking for a one word answer here, Yes?No?
Are you accusing rburg of being a crook?
Red, I'm looking for a one word answer, "yes" or "no".
Did I say that?
and
..."You sound more and more like a troll. Right now I have you pegged as what I have always heard referred to as a "plausible scoundrel." You imply and outright state things that just are not so. Such as, "federal law implicitly demands" that we check ID when we sell privately. Some state laws explicitly demand it, but not in Georgia, and federal law certainly does not. Whatever you claim or deny, I believe (and I think most here would agree) you are calling for closure of some so-called "gun show loophole." Go ahead and deny it again.
Do you realize how arrogant you sound? Who died and left you in charge? Who set you up as judge? Who are you to lecture the rest of us, then make not-so-thinly-veiled suggestions that one of the most respected members on the board is a crook?"
Red, you couldn't be more wrong about the rules. It has nothing to do with Georgia law. As for that last paragraph, I imagine it does sound at least "arrogant" if you are sitting on ground zero for some descriptions which might fit much too well. But not knowing you personally, all I can do is guess why you are so angry and why you simply deny what everybody sees openly happening at shows and on the net. What I've said here is what thousands of walkers at gun shows have learned the hard way. Lots of them are on this forum, reading, but they are too polite to open up and post their views...maybe not wanting to be in the cross hairs of the likes of you. As for me, I couldn't care less. In fact it's entertaining to watch you squirm and implode. That's not being a "troll". It's enjoying seeing several questionable practice defenders go bananas. Hard to say what it accomplishes, other than proving that you guys are out there, don't like to hear this boat rocking talk, and anybody buying on the Net or at a gun show had better hang onto his rear with both hands.
And no, don't do your own troll or straw man thing again by saying, "Are you saying...".
What I've posted is what I meant to say, and you can interpret it as it is written. What I would like to say would be a lot more explicit but, believe it or not, I'm too nice a guy. And without facts, I wouldn't accuse any person of anything. Of course, you and your buddies here have done the exact opposite in attempting to tar me, for having posted some observations and (very strong) opinions which drive you up the wall.
Some of this has gone pretty far, but that doesn't bother me, as I would like to see just how far it will go. If you are looking for me to wither under this blizzard of phoney and accusatory B.S., don't hold your breath. I'm 100% sure I'm on the mark and have not unfairly, or inaccurately targeted some practice or abuse. And if that's being arrogant, so be it. Stinker business at gun shows and on the net is going to stop. The only question is whether the good guys in the collector world (many of them right here) will be able to fix the problem, or whether the bad guys, the Schumerites, will do it by shutting us all down. You, personally, are one of the guys throwing it away with both hands for us, playing into their hands by taking the position you openly take here, insisting everything is O.K. and everything to which I object is a bunch of fabricated nonsense, brought into the daylight by a guy with bad motives.
Bobelk99 says:
"I can truthfully say this thread is no longer entertaining."
I'll bet.
Maybe you could close your eyes, or just skip over it?
and
..."I think it is time for PhilO to pack it in, or verify the basis for his comments, especially related to ID checking."
Thanks for all that truthfulness. Others here are privately telling me they are loving my accurate comments, and hope I hang in there. Second suggestion rejected. Federal law prohibits you from selling a handgun to an out of state resident who is not an FFL. If you don't take the most obvious and unobtrusive measure to comply, you are making a foolish and dangerous mistake. Redlevel doesn't understand that either.
66TAS, another of your buddies, says
"knew you couldnt, thanx for making my point...see ya"
Thanks for throwing in the towel, I guess.
For open minded people, and those agreeing with my concerns, scanning this thread now and in the future, I think you don't even have to read "between the lines" to see what a hornet's nest is stirred up if anybody suggests that there are some bad smells hanging over our hobby, and that there are specific people and practices causing it. It's right out in the open here. I'd like to think the embittered counter attackers in this thread are a small and usually not vocal minority; only Internet anonymity boosts the decibel level.
But I'm very concerned about the future of gun shows in particular. The abusers are killing us. So are a lot of good guys who mistakenly think they are doing the right thing by not satisfying themselves about the ID of those to whom they are selling handguns. Please, people, don't do this. You're going to ruin it for all of us. No need to take names, record info, etc., etc. Just make sure of state of residency and satisfy yourself that the buyer doesn't go against your gut feeling of right and wrong, which you hopefully have.
Here's something very specific and scary. New York is one of the really tight states for handgun ownership (which I think is totally wrong and unconstitutional). Gang bangers from the NYC metropolitan area regularly go to other states to try to buy paperless guns and take them home to sell at huge profits. Northern Virginia gun shows used to be a favorite hunting ground. Do any of you on this forum want to be the guys who sell hit guns to these people, no questions asked, having not even asked to see an in-state picture driver's license? In my opinion, any gun show table holder who does that should be doing a long term in the slammer. The law most certainly provides for it. Just scan through GCA68, which trumps "Georgia law" and everything else. Fanatical gun banning New York Mayor Michael Bloomburg is out for your hide, sending sting crews all over the country now and then, for political benefit and trying to get gun shows shut down. Why make it so easy for him?
If the thread goes quietly to sleep right here, that would be fine with me. But I hope that the concerns which most of us have about this doesn't also go to sleep.
And if this is followed by more bitter denials and counter attacks, that only emphasizes the misdirected anger of those who go bonkers over the thought of anybody or anything interfering with the harvesting of novices' cash and rare old inherited guns.
In the immortal words of that paragon of virtue, Richard Nixon, "But that would be wrong." (Got a beautiful, framed presidential appointment certificate signed by him, certifying to my integrity; what irony).
So maybe this thread is a convenient filter, telling the world who is who in S&W collector land. Guys, pay attention to who has argued which position here. Then compare that to what you have seen yourself. Looks like the clash of white hats vs. black hats, with the latter arguing that the former are the latter. 
