The New York State Fairgrounds played host to the New York State Arms Collectors Association’s gun show over the weekend, which drew second amendment supporters and gun enthusiasts. The show has been in Syracuse since 1938. Well over 1,000 tables were set up for the buyers and sellers of the wide variety of guns, ammunition, knives, and more. One of the six directors of the show Doug Roberts says that although most of the transactions are business deals, many of them are historically driven.
“It's more of a history lesson that you can touch,” Roberts said. “When we originally started in the 1930s and 1940s, it was primarily just antique arms. Today we have got civil war pieces up until Korean conflict. At the show right now, we have from the revolutionary war through the hot desert sands. So, the history lesson here is that you can touch and feel weapons that were carried or used at different wars.”
Much of the show’s attraction is “what was”; many are interested in “what is” the current status of the American gun debate. Even Roberts stressed the need for a strict screening process. For the past 23 years, his gun group has required a National Instant Criminal Background Check for all transactions. He believes that it is also crucial for the security of America that its youth learn about arms.
“Freedom is not free,” Roberts said. “So, unfortunately we have to have a military that knows right from wrong, and actually knows something about firearms and the violence that can happen with and without them.”
Roberts was delighted to see fourteen year old Logan Cornell with his father at the show on Sunday. Logan says that what he learned about guns intrigued him.
“Before today I didn't really know a lot about guns. We have been walking through, he’s been talking a lot about the WWII era guns and the wild west guns, which are very interesting,” Cornell said.… “I am not sure about what I would hunt or do with it. I would definitely want to own a gun at some point in my life just because of pure interest in the fire arm or the subject.”
Jennifer Johnson of Liverpool, NY also brought her son to the gun show, and she supports the second amendment for a multitude of reasons.
“I am 100% in support of them [guns],” Johnson said. “I do believe it’s a right to have that as a form of protection as well as for sportsmen. I believe that is something we as Americans have treasured for a very long time, a lot of men have died for that right, and I support it.”
The New York State Arms Collectors Association’s next gun show will be in April at the State Fairgrounds.
