Gun group lays down $10K challenge to gun show protesters

The county-run Del Mar Fairgrounds has for over three decades been the home of the Crossroads of the West Gun Show, a popular event held five times per year that sees thousands attend. However, in recent years the show has become the target of a campaign by local anti-gun advocates who are pressuring area officials to bar the event moving forward, citing a list of concerns that firearms were being sold without state-mandated background checks or 10-day waiting periods. The San Diego County Gun Owners organization last week said those allegations are just false.

“The fact is, every time the gun show comes to town, they march out a bunch of tired, old, misinformation that is not true,” said Michael Schwartz, SDCGO’s executive director in a press conference.

As such, the group is offering to donate $10,000 to the organization of a person’s choice — provided that individual coughs up proof of gun law violations such as undocumented sales in the parking lot without going through a federally licensed dealer, sales to minors, illegal machine guns changing hands, or not complying with California background check and waiting period requirements.