READERS RESPOND

THE ISSUE: We asked readers whether they thought gun shows should be

allowed at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

IN FAVOR

This pertains to your gun show question (“Are guns fair game?” Aug. 9).

It is the right and responsibility of every American citizen to own a

firearm to protect himself and his family. Gun control attacks a serious

problem to the wrong angle.

Today, 60 million Americans own 200 million firearms, including

approximately 60 million handguns. Yet, [according to information from

Sen. Robert Smith, R-New Hampshire] less than four-tenths of 1% of those

handguns will be used to commit crimes. More than 99.6% of all handguns

are used legally.

The gun show is a legitimate enterprise, just as everything else that

takes place at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Anybody meddling around in

it should be given a positively negative answer. That’s it.

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON

Newport Beach

I’m very much against stopping gun shows at different fairgrounds because

there’s more being sold at the gun shows than just guns. And in the long

run, 75% of it is other things that are being sold at those gun shows.

Stopping the sale of guns isn’t going to stop the problem with the

criminals because they’re going to get the guns anyway, no matter what

you do.

GERALD HUBER

Costa Mesa

I do not think anything is going to be accomplished by closing or not

holding gun shows. Thousands and thousands of people go to these gun

shows. I do myself. And closing gun shows is not going to solve the

problems of this gun business. That should be solved by the parents and

the people who raise these children.

DICK SPURGEN

Balboa

I support gun shows at the Fairgrounds. These gun shows are not just

about guns. I buy tools, camping equipment, books, collectibles, and of

course gun supplies. These include rare parts for old firearms, cleaning

supplies, reloading supplies, gun carrying cases, and yes gun locking

devices.

I hope the law-abiding citizens would still be able to exercise their

rights and and be able to use facilities that are paid for by my taxes.

JEFFREY S. BRACEY

Newport Beach

I believe the state should permit all legal activities at a

taxpayer-supported facility. It is inappropriate for the state to censor

either activities or philosophies that are legally permissible.

CHARLES JOHNSON

Newport Beach

OPPOSED

We’re calling to express the opinion that we do not approve of having the

gun shows. We don’t believe there should be encouragement of the sale of

guns or the display or glorification of guns in our area because it just

promotes more gun purchases by, unfortunately, the wrong people.

AARON H. AND MURIEL WINER

I’m very much against any type of gun show, and I think particularly the

Fairgrounds should not conduct a gun show unless they’re absolutely

certain they’ve got the law on their side, so that any buyer or seller of

these guns can be checked through federal or state laws for the

protection of the public to make sure the guns are being passed backward

and forward, to and from legitimate gun owners.

DAVID YOUNG

Newport Beach

I am absolutely opposed to having a gun show at the Fairgrounds in our

community.

JACK McLuhanCorona del Mar

I definitely think gun shows should not be held at the Fairgrounds, or

anywhere else for that matter. All guns and related items, including the

2nd Amendment, are obsolete and archaic and only belong in a museum. Why

can’t the United States join the many cultured and civilized European and

Asian countries who survive and actually thrive without guns?

JANE JUDECosta Mesa