Thousands Attend Collinsville Gun Show

COLLINSVILLE, IL (KTVI) – Over the weekend, customers filed into the ECA Gun, Knife and Hunting Trade Show to buy scopes, bags and stun guns. Most could take their purchases home from the event at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville, Illinois.

But, there was a bit of a delay for firearms.

“There’s a 72-hour wait on the purchase of a handgun. There’s a 24-hour wait on the purchase of a long gun,” said Bob Leckrone, the show`s organizer. His family has been in the gun business since 1958

A man could be heard over the loudspeaker: “All sales must have a background check.”

“The Illinois State Police run the background check on these people. If they’re denied, they`re not allowed to pick up the gun,” Leckrone insisted. “And, we firmly believe in background checks because we don’t want any guns from our shows falling into the hands of criminals.”

He insisted, several times, that Illinois had some of the strictest gun laws in the country and that he is eager to follow the rules. Leckrone said he supports President Barack Obama’s push for background checks for anyone who buys a gun, including semi-automatic handguns and rifles.

“A semi-automatic, you pull the trigger once, one shot,” he pointed out.

Leckrone said some were getting this weapon confused with fully-automatic weapons that can empty a clip with just one trigger pull. He said those guns are illegal in Illinois and not for sale at his show. As for the President’s proposed ban on semi-automatic guns:

“Well obviously, we don’t believe in that. We believe in the Second Amendment.”

So, while Leckrone waited on Washington for any new laws, coworkers waited on a woman sitting at a table close by. She was filling out a form for her background check.

The event open its doors again at 9 a.m. Sunday morning.

http://www.gunshowstoday.com/gun-show/eca-gun-knife-hunting-trade-show-54/

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