NBC 7’s Kelvin Henry explains the reason for the new venue, and shares reaction from a neighbor.
A state law forced the San Diego Gun Show to move away from the Del Mar Fairgrounds where it had been for decades, and while organizers are trying to build the event back to what it once was, some neighbors aren't excited about the new venue.
Michael Schwartz, executive director of San Diego Gun Owners PAC, said when it comes to the San Diego Gun Show, the show must go on.
“Five times a year it would come to town, and it was extremely successful, and it was well attended,” Schwartz said.
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In 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law barring gun shows from being held on state property, forcing the show off of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. That bill was written and supported by San Diego Mayor, Todd Gloria when he was a State Assembly member.
“The fairgrounds, that's exactly what it's designed for,” Schwartz said. Schwartz said it wasn’t easy finding a new venue. “We're having to kind of try to fit a square peg into a round hole,” Schwartz said.
Especially one for the amount of people expected. He said at the Fairgrounds, they could see anywhere from 8,000 to 15,000 people in a weekend.
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“I'm not sure we'll be able to accommodate the same numbers,” Schwartz said.
The new venue, the East San Diego Masonic Lodge, can facilitate about a 3rd of that audience. Some aren't happy about the event's new location.
“We found out that there is a gun show directly across the street from a synagogue and a church, both with preschools, so it’s pretty upsetting and unacceptable,” a neighbor of the Masonic Lodge who only wished to be identified as Doug said.
“I want to be clear, it’s not a Second Amendment issue, it’s a zoning and decency issue," Doug added.
The pushback is a surprise to Schwartz, who said the plan is to host up to five gun shows annually.
“I don’t understand the pushback," he said. "There’s nothing you can do at a gun show that you can’t do at any other gun shop."
Doug's concerns will soon be alleviated if Schwartz has his way. He said the goal is to continue to grow and find even bigger venues.
“I’m going to continue to work whether if I have to go through our Councilman, or City Hall or the City Attorney or even if I have to get my own attorney,” Doug said.
A panel of elected officials, including La Mesa Vice Mayor Laura Lothian, and El Cajon City Councilmember Phil Ortiz, are expected to attend the gun show, which is scheduled for Oct. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the East San Diego Masonic Lodge in San Carlos.
Therese Hymer with San Diegans 4 Gun Violence Prevention supports holding the gun shows off state property.
“It's about who's paying for the facilities for the gun show, and in public settings the taxpayers are paying for those facilities,” Hymer said.
