Orange County Register: Crossroads of the West Gun Show returns to Orange County fairgrounds
BY DESTINY TORRES
The Crossroads of the West Gun Show returns at the OC Fair & Event Center this weekend after a two-year hiatus during a legal battle with the state of California.
The gun show had been held at the fairgrounds since 1996, drawing thousands of people to the event center. Gun shows, including this one, were banned at the OC fairgrounds starting in 2022 under state laws authored by Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine. The first version affected just Orange County, a later expanded version affected all state properties, including state-owned fairgrounds.
A federal judge, however, blocked the state bans in October, saying California was violating the rights of gun sellers and possible buyers by prohibiting weapon purchases at the fairgrounds that can be bought legally at standard gun shops.
Min argues fairgrounds are supposed to be family friendly places.
“A gun show is anything but family-friendly,” Min said this week. “Why should the state be using state property for the distribution of guns that may likely lead to more gun violence in the communities where they’re sold?”
Min said California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who defended the laws in court, has appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. While he’s confident the ruling will be overturned, Min said there may be another gun show or two before that happens.
OC Fair & Event Center spokesperson Terry Moore declined to comment due to the continuing litigation, but said there are more gun show dates anticipated throughout the year.