A table of rifles on display during the heavily attended annual New York State Arms Collectors Association Albany Gun Show at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. Credit: AP
In a controversial decision sure to spark a contentious debate, a Maryland county has decided to ban all gun shows indefinitely while state and federal lawmakers consider gun control legislation.
The Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation announced the decision late last week. Officials also reportedly referenced the Newtown school massacre when making the decision.
Anita Pesses, a spokeswoman for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, says the moratorium is "temporary."
"We are taking everybody's opinions and actions into account," she told WTOP.
But the decision will remain in effect until lawmakers in Washington and in Maryland are done debating new gun control laws.
Meanwhile, at least one gun show has been cancelled due to the ban on legal gun shows. The Silverado Gun Show was set to take place over the holiday weekend but was canned after the decision.
The show's owner, Frank Krasner, told the Washington Examiner that he is losing money because of the decisions made by county officials.
"This is legal trade we're talking about, not the black market," he said. "This not only took money out of my pocket, but close to 100 exhibitors."
"Once again, lawmakers choose to punish the innocent because of the actions of criminals," commenter Brian Ford wrote on the Silverado Gun Show Facebook page. "Just plain stupid and unfair." Others called for a boycott of the Show Place Arena.
"That's a crock of sh*t," another commenter stated bluntly.
Featured image via AP
