A panel of Nashville, TN, city officials may have figured out a way to achieve one or both of two old anti-gun objectives in one stratagem: universal background checks, and/or gun shows.
David Goodman, who has organized and promotes gun shows at the Nashville Fairgrounds—and in other cities as well—for many years, told TGM that he has been presented with a take-it-or-leave-it proposal from the five-member Nashville Metro Fair Board: He either imposes a background check requirement for all gun and accessory sales at his shows, including private transfers and those between relatives, or he will not be allowed to rent the Nashville venue for any shows in 2017.
The revised requirements demanded by the Fair Board do not affect the shows that Goodman has already been allowed to schedule for 2016, including the Apr. 9-10 show which was scheduled as this issue of TGM goes to press.
Goodman has refused to adopt the universal background check scheme, which is not required by state or federal law. However, he does require all federally licensed f1rearms dealers at his shows to conduct background checks through the NICS system for all firearms transfers at his events. As a result of his refusal, he now faces the prospect of being forced out of the Nashville Fairgrounds for future shows.
What is even more of a concern is that Goodman sees this strategy as a way that anti-gun officials can impose a universal background check requirement without legislative action, threatening not just his gun shows, but on several thousands of gun shows nationwide. This also affects the ability of gunowners and gun activists to socialize and share political and other information. Gun shows are traditionally much more than simple buy-and-sell events.
The members of the board which decides which events can and cannot be held at the Fairgrounds are not elected officials, but appointees of the top metro-city official, currently Mayor Megan Barry.
