Florida Gun Show sees record number of visitors

The Florida Gun Show had never seen a crowd as big as the one it saw this weekend, according to organizers.

Almost 7,000 people showed up to The Florida Gun Show in Tampa this weekend, nearly two weeks after a gunman killed 17 teachers and students at a high school in the state.

‘Some of the people attending are afraid that future legislation will impact their gun ownership rights,’ manager George Fernandez told WTSP. 

Indeed, the gun business becomes more profitable after mass shootings, as gun owners become afraid of public backlash causing restrictions to their Second Amendment rights.

‘Some of the people attending are afraid that future legislation will impact their gun ownership rights,’ manager George Fernandez told WTSP

For example, the share price of gun makers tends to spike immediately after mass shootings. That is because of speculation that consumers would be more eager to buy up guns in the short term before the government would introduce legislation restricting gun sales, according to Business Insider. 

Legislators including Florida senator Bill Nelson have called for stricter laws on the ‘gun show loophole’, which allows people to buy guns without any background checks. 

But Fernandez took issue with the notion that people can more easily get their hands on weapons at gun shows, claiming 95 per cent of the vendors at this weekend’s show were required by law to run background checks because they are licensed dealers. 

As the other five per cent of vendors at the show are private citizens, they are not required to run a background check before handing a gun to a costumer. 

Fernandez said 95 per cent of the vendors at this weekend’s show were required by law to run background checks because they are licensed dealers

Fernandez, however, denies the gun show loophole had anything to do with last week’s school massacre. 

‘This was a mental health issue. This is someone who should have been identified from the beginning by law enforcement,’ he said. 

The Fort Lauderdale gun show next month was canceled after Mayor Jack Seiler asked organizers to show respect for the Parkland victims. 

Sergio Gonzalez and his son protested the event at the Florida Fair Grounds, asking for assault weapons to be banned and the gun show loophole to be fixed

‘It doesn’t have to be my child, I’d grieve for any child killed in a mass shooting that’s senseless,’ said Gonzales, who was protesting with his son (pictured)

As Parkland survivors turned activists demand the government do something to prevent mass shootings, a dad stood outside the Gun Show with a sign that read: ‘STOP NRA BLOOD MONEY’ on one side and ‘MASS MURDER IS NOT A RIGHT’ on the other.

Sergio Gonzalez and his son protested the event at the Florida Fair Grounds, asking for assault weapons to be banned, and the gun show loophole to be fixed.

‘It doesn’t have to be my child, I’d grieve for any child killed in a mass shooting that’s senseless. If you want to protect yourself, get yourself a revolver or how about learning how to fight,’ said Gonzalez, 

His son’s sign read: ‘HOW MANY MUST DIE FOR YOUR HOBBY?’