FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – This weekend many will go to the Florence Civic Center for the annual gun and knife show. MK Gun Shows has been hosting this event for the past 12 years at the civic center.
On Friday, vendors spent hours setting up their tables as they prepare for what’s expected to be a big weekend.
“Some of the bigger guys have as many 15-18 tables for a big gun shop. Some guys just have one or two tables. So the bigger guys like to come in early,” said Mike Kent, President of MK Gun Shows.
There are 250 tables with an assorted collection of both guns and knives, but also brought to the table was the debate on gun control.
“So there has been some concern in the gun show industry. We’ve talked to our attorneys in Washington. We’ve talked to the NRA. We’ve talked to other gun show promoters. We’ve talked to our personal attorneys. It absolutely has no impact on what we are doing here at the gun show,” Kent explained.
Concerns developed after an emotional President Barack Obama announced Tuesday an executive action aimed at increasing the reach of federal background checks for gun purchases and existing laws.
Thursday night, the president addressed critics in a town hall forum.
While some vendors think as far as sales on ammunition and guns it could be a big weekend, they also think those sales could be driven by fear of potentially a lack of guns.
“But it is a false sense of fear that has been permeated around the country. People who are really into guns, the gun cultural know better. But your average American that may have one gun stuck in the closet or something, they really don’t understand what’s going on,” mentioned Kent.
The doors open 9:00 a.m. Saturday and again on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
