Libertarians Support Gun Rights at APD Rally in Austin
AUSTIN, TEXAS - January 25th, 2010 -- Libertarians and other pro-Second Amendment activists will gather Monday at 5:00 PM in front of Austin Police Department (APD) Headquarters in response to recent actions by local and federal law enforcement agents that have led to the shutdown of Austin's longest running gun show.
"I, HEB, my sub-lessee, APD and ATF all met on January 14th," said Darwin Boedeker, proprietor of Texas Gun Shows, which held the gun show once a month at the North Austin Event Center (formerly Crockett Center). "Based on incidents which happened during the tenancy of a previous gun show proprietor, the BATF agent 'recommended' that we implement various procedural changes far beyond the requirements of state and federal law. We did this, but ultimately HEB got spooked and shut us down," he continued. "At no time have I or any of my vendors been charged with any crime."
Federal law -- specifically the Firearm Owners Protection Act -- allows citizens to sell guns to each other. If they aren't professional gun dealers, the sellers don't have to be licensed. What is called a "loophole" by gun-control advocates was targeted by federal legislation in the 2009 Congressional session -- none of which got out of committee.
"It is legal for gun owners to sell their guns without going through federally licensed dealers," said attorney Jerri Lynn Ward of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance. "Gun shows are as legal as flea markets. The nuisance abatement laws being cited as justification in this case are designed to target crack houses and no-tell motels -- not legitimate business venues," she continued.
The gun show shutdown comes on the heels of other confrontations between local libertarian and conservative activists and various federal agencies.
"There's a recurring theme here in Austin. Time and again we are forced to defend ourselves from invasive intrusions by the feds," said John Bush, Executive Director of Texans for Accountable Government (TAG). "We have the FCC interfering with our right to broadcast locally, NHTSA pushing our police chief to train his officers as phlebotomists, and DHS commandeering our local resources to fight the Global War on Terror. This recent ATF intimidation against legal, private gun sales is just one more intrusion by a top-down government," he concluded.
"The Austin Police Department has made the wrong decision to work together with the BATF to intimidate law-abiding citizens who seek to protect themselves by owning firearms, and trading them openly," said Libertarian Party of Texas Executive Director Robert Butler. "We're here to defend the citizens of Austin from this federal tyranny, and to discourage local governments everywhere from cooperating with this federal abuse of power. Gun shows provide an open, honest, and legal method for regular folks who are not salesmen or store owners to buy and sell firearms, collectibles, and accessories."
"I, HEB, my sub-lessee, APD and ATF all met on January 14th," said Darwin Boedeker, proprietor of Texas Gun Shows, which held the gun show once a month at the North Austin Event Center (formerly Crockett Center). "Based on incidents which happened during the tenancy of a previous gun show proprietor, the BATF agent 'recommended' that we implement various procedural changes far beyond the requirements of state and federal law. We did this, but ultimately HEB got spooked and shut us down," he continued. "At no time have I or any of my vendors been charged with any crime."
Federal law -- specifically the Firearm Owners Protection Act -- allows citizens to sell guns to each other. If they aren't professional gun dealers, the sellers don't have to be licensed. What is called a "loophole" by gun-control advocates was targeted by federal legislation in the 2009 Congressional session -- none of which got out of committee.
"It is legal for gun owners to sell their guns without going through federally licensed dealers," said attorney Jerri Lynn Ward of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance. "Gun shows are as legal as flea markets. The nuisance abatement laws being cited as justification in this case are designed to target crack houses and no-tell motels -- not legitimate business venues," she continued.
The gun show shutdown comes on the heels of other confrontations between local libertarian and conservative activists and various federal agencies.
"There's a recurring theme here in Austin. Time and again we are forced to defend ourselves from invasive intrusions by the feds," said John Bush, Executive Director of Texans for Accountable Government (TAG). "We have the FCC interfering with our right to broadcast locally, NHTSA pushing our police chief to train his officers as phlebotomists, and DHS commandeering our local resources to fight the Global War on Terror. This recent ATF intimidation against legal, private gun sales is just one more intrusion by a top-down government," he concluded.