The long-awaited return of the Gun Show to Columbus!

Update: PRO/C&E show this weekend at Vets Aug 9-10

Well, here we finally are. Last March I was preparing to announce here BFA's inclusion in the First Gun show in Columbus in 20 years. This show was only made possible by our passage of HB 347 which preempted local ordinances and gun bans.

If you've been paying attention you also know that the show was unavoidable put on hold due to circumstances beyond the control of the dedicated people at PRO.

Thankfully PRO has partnered with a wonderful company "C&E" to produce a new line up of central Ohio area gun shows. The first will be this weekend Aug 9 & 10 at Vets memorial. This will be the largest central Ohio show in years! Shows are also scheduled for Wilmington and Westland mall later in the year.

C & E is dedicated to producing a fun, safe and very professional show. At last notice had upwards of 800 vendors lined up for this weekends event. So it will be big! We hope everyone will help make this first show in Columbus a hugh success. See you there!

The long-awaited return of the Gun Show to Columbus!

By Steve Loos

No, You're not having a flash back to 1989 and your eyes are not deceiving you! After many years absence a Gun Show is returning to Columbus Ohio proper! This April 5th, licensed dealers from across the country as well as participants from throughout Ohio will gather once again at Vet's Memorial in Downtown Columbus.

What makes this show a special event is the fact that, thanks to arcane gun restrictions for many years, it wasn't feasible for Gun shows to be held in C-town. At one time, The Ohio Gun Collectors Association held their bimonthly shows at Vets Memorial. These shows were hugely popular, the second largest events of their kind in the country. Many don't remember that in fact the convention hall was expanded just to support these Shows.

Unfortunately in 1989 under Mayor "Bucky" Rhinehart The City of Columbus began endeavoring to pass restrictive gun laws. This spelled the end of a tradition and cost the city untold monies from the loss of commerce.

More recently Columbus city council under the leadership of Mike Mental were not content to sit on their laurels and committed themselves to pushing even more intrusive gun bans on the citizens. Despite strong and articulate opposition and supported by Mayor Coleman they adopted the now defunct Columbus "Assault Weapons Ban." If you have been paying attention you'll remember this lost Columbus the coveted NRA national Convention. This annual event would have brought in an estimated twenty-plus million dollars to the coffers.

What has changed? In 2006 the 126th General Assembly passed House Bill 347. This CHL clean up Bill was championed by the NRA, PRO and Buckeye Firearms Association. Besides improving several concealed carry problems, including a mandate of open carry in vehicles, it also established a statewide preemption of local firearms ordinances. The purpose was to create a uniform statewide standard and remove the patchwork of unconstitutional local bans. These municipal bans were not enforced and were simply used as a trap and tool of intimidation against the law -abiding.

Residents of Columbus or Cincinnati now can once more observe their rights to keep and bear arms without Orwellian restrictions. We mourn for our brothers and sisters in Washington D.C.'s "gun free" zone.

This April 5, when you attend the Vets Memorial PRO gun show, remember how it was made possible, and the very real threat you could lose that right again. Buy a gun, take a safety course to expand your knowledge, and most importantly don't forget to support your local Second Amendment advocates!