No cameras allowed at the gun show.

[zahc]

Why?

The check-in desk guy saw the Canon AT-1 around my neck while he was tagging my gun and told me I wasn't allowed to take pictures. I was sort of surprised, and I told him I wouldn't take any. I was a little disappointed because I had figured a gun show to be decent ground to get some interesting photos, given the interesting equipment, varied people, wheel-and-deal atmosphere, aromatic soap-and-candle sellers, and humorous prices on absolute junk. I hadn't specifically gone there to take pictures; I just take my camera nearly everywhere.

While I was walking around other people at booths saw my camera, even though it was mostly under my coat. One of them said I wasn't allowed to have cameras in here; he seemed upset that I had a camera, even though I wasn't using it. I told him the desk guy said I just couldn't take pictures. He went aggressively silent. Another booth-owner told me I might want to hide my camera, because earlier they made someone go back out (into 10F/-12C weather) to put his camera in his car. Others noticed the camera with obvious suspicion, to the point of effecting the mood of how sellers treated me.

This whole experience was interesting to me on several levels.  If I go to a camera convention or something in TX, I fully expect to see a 30.06 sign, just to complete the circle.

[Scout26]

Ummm, I'll take a stab at this one......

Straw purchases.....

Mayor Bloomberg.......

Sting operation......

Anti's using the photos/footage to spread lies, ignorance and fear....

To plan the burglary....

I'm sure someone else will be along shortly with more.....

[Harold Tuttle]

I was at a Monkey County MD gunshow several years ago and enjoyed watching 2 obviously liberal anti gun people get requested to stop photographing the event.

Photography in a closed venue requires the permission of the event owner and model releases from any people appearing in shot.
Rather than the event vetting anyone with a point & shoot. It is far easier to ban the open carry of image recording devices.

I carry a FA, evil, black, big bore canon 40D
At the Hopper exhibit at the national gallery, I was requested not to take any images of the show.
Cell phone camera folke were taking snaps everywhere...

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

fuddruckers restaurants have a no pics sign

[Gowen]

So people can keep their privacy.  If you are buying a gun, do you want it advertised on the internet you have it, with pics?

[geronimotwo]

it's a real shame when we have to hide our guns from the anti's cameras.

[zahc]

There's something odd about carrying around a revolver in one hand in an environment where everyone notices and gets uptight about the camera around your neck.

Attempting to 'hide' the guns by selectively enforcing against people with 'pro-looking' assault cameras seems rather short sighted in the age of thumb-sized recording devices, in a manner fairly similar to the mentality of those that slap up gunbuster signs. Of course it's their venue and their rules, in the end.

[Harold Tuttle]

I used to manage concert security in college and was responsible for attempting to quell illegal recordings and photography

now you go to a concert and people are streaming the show out over their phones

strange times...

[bk425]

I have a background (although only academic) in photo journalism and I'm a director of a show with a no pictures policy. So, let me talk about classes : ) (Oh yeah, I'm an nra instructor too) Most cameras have a telephoto lens these days and few users really consider fields of focus or view as they snap informal pictures. Those pictures get posted out on flikr or picasa and folks on the other side of the gun show debate have no problem surfing for pictures of people pointing guns at people with their fingers on the trigger. Now, some shows that actually really happens. But even the best show can have someone 12 ft into the back or fore/ground pointing a gun the direction of someone elses head in the (opposite) back or fore/ground... If you're zoomed out there's no way to -see- that that muzzle isn't pressed into the nice kids or the nice ladies temple... even though they're a real distance apart.

This really is only -one- reason for these policies at private shows. No one's trying to repress anyones free expression, the show operators simply have really (really really really) good reasons to want to exercise control over their own public image. all IMHO -Boyd

[Cliff47]

The anti-gunners will use anything (including out-and-out falsehoods) to push their agenda, and that includes making any and all gun shows look like firearms markets.  They don't know the thrill of the hunt, the satisfaction of finding a good buy (getting fewer and further between all the time), and learning the history/background of some of the firearms you find at shows.

No cameras equates to no bad publicity.  The show most likely has a  photographer on staff for pictures already.