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What ultimately people see is a black scary gun and they're frightened by the black scary gun and they want to know why you would need a black scary gun," said John Rodabaugh, president of the Washington Arms Collectors. (AP Photo/File)

Firearm enthusiasts fear ban on 'black scary guns'

BY Brandi Kruse  on January 19, 2013 @ 3:40 pm (Updated: 5:45 am - 1/21/13 )

"They're trying to get their AR-15's, their 47's and all that. All the big guns," said a man standing in line outside the Puyallup Fair Grounds Saturday.

He was one of hundreds of people waiting to get inside a gun show hosted by the Washington Arms Collectors, a two-day event which brought in an estimated 10,000 attendees.

"They're scared that Obama's going to get rid of the second amendment," he said of show-goers.

Although non-members could attend, only registered WAC members were allowed to purchase firearms at the event. Those individuals have undergone necessary background checks, according to President John Rodabaugh.

Mike, who ran a booth selling specialty ammo and survival gear, said "panic" over the current gun control debate has led to a "buying frenzy."

"(Lawmakers) are going to use this opportunity, this tragedy, to push through their agenda," he said, speaking of the Dec. 14 mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn.

Rodabaugh said guns and gun owners have been unfairly targeted in the wake of the shooting.

"There's a lot of response to fear that the government is going to enact Draconian measures on law-abiding citizens who have done nothing wrong," he said.

The current debate over gun control has centered around a ban on certain assault-style weapons to help prevent tragedies like the Sandy Hook shooting and the massacre at an Aurora, Colo., movie theatre on July 20, 2012.

"Telling 80-million gun owners that they can't own this gun because it looks scarier than this gun isn't going to do that," he said. "What ultimately people see is a black scary gun and they're frightened by the black scary gun and they want to know why you would need a black scary gun."

The gun show kicked off while "Gun Appreciation Day" rallies were taking place around the country, including one in Olympia that brought in an estimated 2,000 participants. Some supporters brought copies of the constitution to show their support for the Second Amendment.

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (117)


  • Add A Comment

  • monroemad wrote...
    GUN SHOWS ROCK!
    January 21, 2013 1:05 pm
    I have been to many gun shows and have never seen one where background checks were not done. Where did Obama ever come up with this nonsense? Tell a lie often enough and it becomes truth?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @Monroe
    January 21, 2013 1:28 pm
    to add to that, many of the table holders at Puyallup are dealers, bound by the same rules at the shows as they are in their place of business. Unfortunately, the self-appointed do-gooders in DC will add restrictions that will override state law and it will take a few years for the supreme court to iron it out - unless Barry can get hisself a few more of said do-gooders on the bench.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    B.S
    January 21, 2013 1:30 pm
    All the wicked, racist, militias, present and former military clowns are stock piling weapons for the eventual race war that will be a modern day Armageddon. But little do the wicked know there's more righteous people of color on this planet than their are racist right wing wackos with high powered guns. And that's probably when the world will end.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @BigBlackGuy
    January 21, 2013 2:37 pm
    This big black guy walks into a bar with an amazing beautiful Amazon blue parrot on his shoulder. Everybody is awestruck by the sight when the bartender asks, "Man, that's beautiful - where did you get it?" "Africa," the parrot says. But seriously, how do you hope to rule the roost when we've successfully got you sucking crack pipes, ditching your offspring, being enslaved by parrots and pretty much killing one another for us? Do you have enough jam-prone .25 autos to overcome your redneck neighbor's mini-gun? What's the play Tyrone?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    will be a modern day Armageddon
    January 21, 2013 5:25 pm
    Apparently you're not aware, but the Biblical reference to Armageddon is a prophetic reference....it hasn't taken place yet.

    But little do the wicked know there's more righteous people of color on this planet than their are racist right wing wackos with high powered guns

    I agree entirely...there aren't many racists on the right...they are mostly on the left end of the political spectrum...but they already have you where they want you...ignorant of their racism and doing their bidding.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stanwooddave wrote...
    Brandi Kruse & the Camel Smoking Edward R. Murrow
    January 22, 2013 12:11 am
    Edward R. Murrow (born Egbert Roscoe Murrow; April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) Edward R. Murrow (journalist) died of lung cancer. ... confessing, “I doubt very much that I could spend a half hour without a cigarette with any comfort or ease.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Murrow A chain smoker throughout his [Edward R. Murrow] life, Murrow was almost never seen without his trademark Camel cigarette. It was reported that he smoked anywhere from sixty to sixty-five cigarettes a day, equivalent to roughly three packs a day. So I guess because he [Edward R. Murrow] was a lib, the progressives just hide that irrefutable fact. So the moral of this is what, if a lib did it, it didn't happen is a guess. So what's next awards from the KKK (democrat's in white robes) her reporting?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Stanwooddave wrote...
    Brandi Kruse & the Camel Smoking Edward R. Murrow
    January 22, 2013 12:14 am
    Edward R. Murrow (born Egbert Roscoe Murrow; April 25, 1908 – April 27, 1965) Edward R. Murrow (journalist) died of lung cancer. ... confessing, “I doubt very much that I could spend a half hour without a cigarette with any comfort or ease.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Murrow A chain smoker throughout his [Edward R. Murrow] life, Murrow was almost never seen without his trademark Camel cigarette. It was reported that he smoked anywhere from sixty to sixty-five cigarettes a day, equivalent to roughly three packs a day. So I guess because he [Edward R. Murrow] was a lib, the progressives just hide that irrefutable fact. So the moral of this is what, if a lib did it, it didn't happen is a guess. So what's next awards from the KKK (democrat's in white robes) her reporting?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    A Ban is just a sales cap!
    January 22, 2013 12:34 am
    The Democrats love boycotts , moratoriums and bans.Here like the Brady Bill the "Ban" is a sales cap , not a confiscation. But wait soon they will want you to "register" your guns so they can keep track of who is selling to who and if the "proper" background check has been performed.Then some snot nosed 16 year old raised by limp wristed , lily livered baby boomer parents shoots up a school "again" they will move to confiscate and collect your evil little semi automatic guns. Never mind the real problem is the rotten predominate culture(Democrats).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    I agree
    January 22, 2013 1:24 am
    rational wrote...NRA isn't about the truth
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rational wrote...
    hpitantso
    January 22, 2013 5:38 pm
    Liar, I wrote that you don't care about the truth...and your lie proves my statement to be accurate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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