GARDEN CITY - The gun show starting Saturday, Jan. 9, is going to be the last one for a while at Expo Idaho. In light of recent accidents with weapons discharging, Ada County commissioners say they need to pause and think about a few things before putting on future shows.
Lewis Clark Trader, which is putting on the event at Expo Idaho, says talks about upping security at gun shows started last fall. Now, they've had to scrap two planned for the spring - but the one on January 9 and 10 will still go on.
"We're declaring a moratorium on gun shows until we have an opportunity to look at the liability issue and safety issues," Ada County Commissioner Rick Yzaguirre said.
At a show held at Expo Idaho in 2013, a Mountain Home Air Force Base airman lost his vision in one eye after a gun accidentally went off.
"There was mediation and legal action that were taken against the county," Yzaguirre said. "So at the end of the day it looks like Ada County is the one that writes the check a lot of times in these situations because the county - a lot of people think - has deep pockets."
Because Ada County manages the facility, they had to pay $100,00 in the settlement. Then on October 31, a gun discharged inside a show that Lewis Clark Trader put on, shooting and injuring two men. In order to avoid another liability, Ada County commissioners took a look at their gun show contracts and decided they needed to make some changes in how they manage future gun shows.
"So this is not about gun rights," Yzaguirre said. "iIt is about putting on a safe show, protecting those that choose to attend, and making sure that we don't have any exposure."
He adds that it is hard to say how long the moratorium will last, but says it won't take more than a few months for the county to review their rules and see if they can do more to make the shows safer.
"It was very sad. After being here for 34 years and doing 101 shows," Lewis Clark Trader promoter Paul Snider said. "To get the boot was a little tough."
Snider was told on December 28 that the county was pulling the plug on future shows the promoter had scheduled, not counting the one already invested in on January 9-10.
"More security isn't going to help an accident. An accident happens when they don't expect it," Snider told KTVB.
He says he already has all the bases covered in terms of gun security: They inspect the weapons as they come through the door and put zip ties on them so they don't accidentally discharge. In October, the man was actually in the process of putting a zip tie on when his gun went off, but Snider says Lewis Clark Trader did not invite him nor rent him a table.
Snider tells us Ada County has implied that they're going to invite him back, and he hopes that they do. He says he's still sorting things out but while there's a hold on gun shows at Expo Idaho, he'll probably look for other options around the Treasure Valley.
The county attached a document to their letter addressed to Snider on December 28. The commissioners are requiring certain conditions regarding Lewis Clark Trader's show on January 9-10 and told the promoter to enforce and follow gun show safety set up procedures, including:
- The east end or back of the Center Expo building will be the only entrance for firearms and ammunition, labeled the "Firearms and Ammunition Entrance Only".
- Allied Barton security officers will be observing Lewis Clark security personnel who will be inspecting all firearms and ammunition that will be part of the gun show. For the protection of both the vendors and general public, prior to any firearm being brought into the Expo Idaho facility, the firearms that are part of the show must be secured and/or tied so as to prevent a discharge.
- There will be one Allied Barton security officer at each of the non-firearm entrances verifying that Lewis Clark security are checking non-firearm/ammunition products entering the facility.
- There will be at least one Allied Barton security officer robving the inside of Center Expo to make sure that vendors do not breach gun show rules by using other doors.
- There will be a deputy sheriff at the back by the Firearms and Ammunition Entrance during check-in.
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo will be at the gun show at Expo Idaho around 10:30 a.m on Saturday to "condemn President Obama's attacks on the Second Amendment" as well as discuss new legislation.
