I view a gun show as an affair that you pay money to go to an organized location to look and, and possibly purchase, firearms.
That said, how many of these purchased guns have been used in crimes? One? Two?
Here's something that people seem to forget....criminals don't get their guns at gun shows....they buy them on the street.
Channel 5 out of Boston did a gun special a few months ago....they had two segments, one interviewing criminals who were behind bars, and how they got their guns...every single one of the said that they went up a block, or over a block, and knew which street corner to get a gun.
Most said they could get a gun for under $200.00.
The next segment covered the gun show loophole. They went up to VT and kept offering a VT dealer money until he sold them the gun. He finally said "I know I shouldn't do this, but the money is too good". They spent (if my memory is correct) over $5,000.00 for a Glock.
So let's review....a common street crimal, which statistically is responsible for the overwhelming majority of gun crimes, can walk two blocks and spend $200, or drive his beater 4 hours up to Burlington, VT and spend over $5,000, then drive 4 hours back....
Which, my somewhat educated friends, is more of the threat?
The commentary in the paper the next morning was a bunch of people screaming about closing the loophole.