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Midland Gun Show More Popular Than Ever, Private Gun Vendors Still Worry
Midland Gun Show More Popular Than Ever, Private Gun Vendors Still Worry 2/2/13
Matt Rist
mrist@ cbs7.com
CBS 7 News Reporter
February 2, 2013
MIDLAND-ith all the recent talk of gun control, local gun shows are more popular than ever. And they are an important boost for the local economy.
For David Whiting and his family, this weekend's gun show is about more than guns and ammo. It’s about loving what they do.
"Being able to take people out and about and talk about guns at shows, I love it,” said David Whiting, owner of Five Four Tactical, which sells semi-automatic weapons at Permian Basin gun shows.
Like many of the private vendors, the Whitings earn their living from gun shows and worry about restrictions being placed on the weapons they sell.
"These ar-15 semi automatic weapons are our livelihood, if they took them away, we'd be out of business. "
It’s not just vendors who benefit--organizers say gun shows bring thousands and a big economic boost.
"Gun shows are great for the community, it means more money in tax revenue,” said Kim Sanson of Silver Spur Trade Shows. “We’re staying in hotels and eating in restaurants, it’s good for the areas we visit."
For the Whitings, business is still good, but who knows for how long.
"If we cut out gun shows, there goes most of our business,” said Whiting.
The Silver Spur Gun Show will be open again tomorrow at the Horseshoe Arena, but you might want to get there early if today was any indication of tomorrow's crowds.