"Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Use this forum to post your experience with encounters with law enforcement, criminals, or other encounters as a result of your firearm or potential to be carrying one.

Moderators: Chuck, Mustang380gal, Coordinators, Moderators

User avatar
High Power
Posts: 2557
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:03 pm

"Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by High Power »

My friend went to the C&E gun show at the Franklin County Fairgrounds today. As he was EXITING the show a State Trooper was stationed at the door.

As he was leaving, she asked him as well as everyone else that left; "Do you have any guns?"

My friend's answer was no, and he passed on through the exit.

My question is; does anyone know anything about why the OSP would be asking if anyone LEAVING a gun show would have any firearms? I have some ideas but want to know if anyone else has any thoughts or additional information.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
Brian D.
Posts: 16229
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Brian D. »

Perhaps looking for one that had been reported as stolen off a table?
Quit worrying, hide your gun well, shut up, and CARRY that handgun!

********************************************************************************
1911 and Browning Hi Power Enthusianado.
Gramps
OFCC Patron Member
OFCC Patron Member
Posts: 637
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 5:49 pm
Location: Logan County

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Gramps »

Brian D. wrote:Perhaps looking for one that had been reported as stolen off a table?
Plausible reason as it would be a felony to steal a firearm I believe.
I bet if someone did steal a firearm at a show they would say "Yes" if asked if they had one however... :roll:
Gramps

Follower of Christ. Love and protect my wife, kids and grand kids..

* TRUMP 2020 *
> No Masks On This Face | All Lives Matter | It's Okay To Be White <
User avatar
MyWifeSaidYes
OFCC Coordinator
OFCC Coordinator
Posts: 5449
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:59 pm
Location: Central Ohio
Contact:

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by MyWifeSaidYes »

I'm disappointed your friend didn't say, "Why do you ask?"

:(

At the guns shows that C&E held at the old Westland Mall in Columbus, there was only one exit door they wanted you to leave through if you had purchased a gun.

I don't know the reasoning, but Chuck or Stryker74 may be able to shed some light on that.
MyWifeSaidYes
Brian D.
Posts: 16229
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Brian D. »

High Power wrote:My friend went to the C&E gun show at the Franklin County Fairgrounds today. As he was EXITING the show a State Trooper was stationed at the door.

As he was leaving, she asked him as well as everyone else that left; "Do you have any guns?"

My friend's answer was no, and he passed on through the exit.
A little research makes it somewhat clearer to me: The C&E show is held at the Ohio Expo Center, which is on the STATE fairgrounds property. Hence the reason for OSHP being used for security.
Quit worrying, hide your gun well, shut up, and CARRY that handgun!

********************************************************************************
1911 and Browning Hi Power Enthusianado.
User avatar
JustaShooter
OFCC Coordinator
OFCC Coordinator
Posts: 5800
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:08 pm
Location: Akron/Canton Area

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by JustaShooter »

Brian D. wrote:
High Power wrote:My friend went to the C&E gun show at the Franklin County Fairgrounds today. As he was EXITING the show a State Trooper was stationed at the door.

As he was leaving, she asked him as well as everyone else that left; "Do you have any guns?"

My friend's answer was no, and he passed on through the exit.
A little research makes it somewhat clearer to me: The C&E show is held at the Ohio Expo Center, which is on the STATE fairgrounds property. Hence the reason for OSHP being used for security.
I understand why they would be used for security, but that doesn't explain the question...
Christian, Husband, Father
NRA Life Member
NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Pistol & Rifle Instructor

Want to become more active with OFCC and help fight for your rights? Click Here!
Brian D.
Posts: 16229
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Brian D. »

Okay. What some gun shows to is provide a sticker on guns being sold by non-licensed individuals whether the person is a table holder, or walk-around patron. So if I buy a gun from a non-FFL table, they then but the sticker on it, and/or give me a receipt. Naturally, if I buy from an FFL, they always give a receipt.

So on the way out, security can (and might) ask to see the sticker or receipt. I don't recall if C&E does that.or not, but it's been standard practice at the Indy 1500 show (and others run by that promoter) for years now.

Or, maybe the OSHP lady was just being flirty.
Quit worrying, hide your gun well, shut up, and CARRY that handgun!

********************************************************************************
1911 and Browning Hi Power Enthusianado.
User avatar
Stryker74
OFCC Member
OFCC Member
Posts: 1470
Joined: Wed Mar 06, 2013 8:15 pm
Location: Grove City, Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Stryker74 »

Brian D. wrote:Okay. What some gun shows to is provide a sticker on guns being sold by non-licensed individuals whether the person is a table holder, or walk-around patron. So if I buy a gun from a non-FFL table, they then but the sticker on it, and/or give me a receipt. Naturally, if I buy from an FFL, they always give a receipt.

So on the way out, security can (and might) ask to see the sticker or receipt. I don't recall if C&E does that.or not, but it's been standard practice at the Indy 1500 show (and others run by that promoter) for years now.

Or, maybe the OSHP lady was just being flirty.
When the C&E show was at Westland, they had a huge problem with thieves. (One guy snagged a KSG off a table and stuck it under his coat.) So, they made you exit out a specific door if you were carrying a gun and did not have a vendor badge on. They stationed someone there to check receipts and tags on the guns as they were exiting.

I suspect the OSP trooper was attempting to enforce a similar policy. I might have to run up there today to find out.
Aaron

NRA Life Endowment Member
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol, Refuse To Be A Victim
NRA Range Safety Officer
Kentucky CCDW Certified Instructor



Want to become more active with OFCC, and the fight for your rights? Click the link to find out how!
http://ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=64852" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
deanimator
Posts: 7863
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 7:34 pm
Location: Rocky River

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by deanimator »

Stryker74 wrote:When the C&E show was at Westland, they had a huge problem with thieves. (One guy snagged a KSG off a table and stuck it under his coat.) So, they made you exit out a specific door if you were carrying a gun and did not have a vendor badge on. They stationed someone there to check receipts and tags on the guns as they were exiting.

I suspect the OSP trooper was attempting to enforce a similar policy. I might have to run up there today to find out.
I've never seen that at any gun show, including Berea, Medina, Fremont, the OGCA and the PGCA.
Life comes at you fast. Be prepared to shoot it in the head when it does.
M-Quigley
Posts: 4780
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2015 10:06 pm
Location: Western Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by M-Quigley »

deanimator wrote:
Stryker74 wrote:When the C&E show was at Westland, they had a huge problem with thieves. (One guy snagged a KSG off a table and stuck it under his coat.) So, they made you exit out a specific door if you were carrying a gun and did not have a vendor badge on. They stationed someone there to check receipts and tags on the guns as they were exiting.

I suspect the OSP trooper was attempting to enforce a similar policy. I might have to run up there today to find out.
I've never seen that at any gun show, including Berea, Medina, Fremont, the OGCA and the PGCA.
I've never seen that either so far, except at the Westland mall. I was with someone however at Westland who bought a used small gun from a private seller with a table, the guy paid cash, was given the gun, no receipt, and the guy slipped it in his coat pocket. We continued to walk around the show. When we left, we did leave out the correct exit if you had a gun, but the gun was still in his pocket. No one stopped and questioned him, although I supposed if a dealer had reported one was stolen, they would have.
User avatar
High Power
Posts: 2557
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:03 pm

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by High Power »

At first, my friend and I were thinking that, perhaps, a firearm was stolen and the OSP trooper was trying to catch a thief that was stupid enough to admit to having a gun.

On the other hand, she could have been "baiting" the patrons as they left the door.

It's been a while since I was at one of the shows but if I recall, the signage at the entrance says that no loaded firearms are permitted; including those with a CHL.

Now if a CHL holder chose to disobey the signs and entered the premises they still have to comply with the "promptly inform" requirement. So, if a patron was carrying and was a CHL holder then they'd have to tell the trooper they were carrying. So they'd get nailed for disobeying the signage prior to entering the show.

Another possibility would be to trap a person who bought a handgun at the show. A lot of patrons carry back packs or shoulder bags into the show. After purchasing a handgun it could be placed inside a bag. When asked if they had a gun, the reply might be; "Yes, I bought one here today."

Then they could get nailed for carrying a concealed weapon if they are not a CHL holder.

So the bottom line was that we both felt it was some sort of a trap.

He went back to the show the next day and the OSP trooper was not there; other troopers were but they were not stationed at the exit or asking questions.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
Brian D.
Posts: 16229
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Brian D. »

I'm no cheerleader for OSHP, High Power, but can't imagine that trooper was trying to do an entrapment of some kind. Let's face it, buy a gun in a store it comes in a case, box, or whatever, which the clerk might also (with a handgun anyhow) throw into an opaque plastic bag. Does that call for the closest cop to come arrest the buyer on a CCW charge?
Quit worrying, hide your gun well, shut up, and CARRY that handgun!

********************************************************************************
1911 and Browning Hi Power Enthusianado.
User avatar
High Power
Posts: 2557
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:03 pm

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by High Power »

Brian D. wrote:I'm no cheerleader for OSHP, High Power, but can't imagine that trooper was trying to do an entrapment of some kind. Let's face it, buy a gun in a store it comes in a case, box, or whatever, which the clerk might also (with a handgun anyhow) throw into an opaque plastic bag. Does that call for the closest cop to come arrest the buyer on a CCW charge?
Oops. I forgot that ALL LEOs are completely honest, don't lie, are all pro-gun, are smarter than the rest of us mere mortals and don't ever try to entrap honest citizens.

That makes me feel better now that I won't have to have my voice recorder on if I'm ever stopped by a LEO. I can always trust them to tell the truth.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
Brian D.
Posts: 16229
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2005 8:42 pm
Location: SW Ohio

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by Brian D. »

Just trying to be helpful here, based on having gone to gun shows in many states for lots of years. There are some venues that use whatever LE group on site for security as sort of Loss Prevention officers. Maybe that OSHP trooper was just doing as instructed, or got a bit overzealous.

Also, maybe three years ago at Westland, one of the C&E staffers mentioned that the venue had experienced several problems with attempts to spirit guns and such off tables and out the door. Hence the "This exit only with firearms" thing.

If your sarcasm is an indicator that you'd like me to stop posting on this thread, just say so.
Quit worrying, hide your gun well, shut up, and CARRY that handgun!

********************************************************************************
1911 and Browning Hi Power Enthusianado.
User avatar
High Power
Posts: 2557
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:03 pm

Re: "Do You Have Any Guns?" Asked at a Gun Show

Post by High Power »

Brian D. wrote:Just trying to be helpful here, based on having gone to gun shows in many states for lots of years. There are some venues that use whatever LE group on site for security as sort of Loss Prevention officers. Maybe that OSHP trooper was just doing as instructed, or got a bit overzealous.

Also, maybe three years ago at Westland, one of the C&E staffers mentioned that the venue had experienced several problems with attempts to spirit guns and such off tables and out the door. Hence the "This exit only with firearms" thing.

If your sarcasm is an indicator that you'd like me to stop posting on this thread, just say so.
No sarcasm intended. I've never been any good at humor. Sorry if I offended you.

You're correct in that the LEO could be doing as instructed. She may have been just curious and wanted to make conversation. Or it could have been a trap.
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
Post Reply