Gun Shows
Gun shows are a time-honored classic American tradition where people exercise the constitutional right to assemble, speak freely with one another about areas of common interest and political importance, buy, sell and trade legal products between themselves and commercial operators, bring kids, eat hot dogs and similar scrumptious fair fare, and generally have a wholesome good time with family and friends.
Despite the presence of thousands upon thousands of guns, no one is harmed, in an environment far safer than some "bad parts of town." Dastardly images of these family-friendly sporting events presented by the "news" media are less accurate than many of the other stories you may find in the media, which is why they call them "stories."
Arizona gun shows are organized by a handful of gun-show promoters, who independently rent out space, solicit vendors, buy advertising, and then run the shows for two or three days over a weekend. In a remarkable exercise of bustling free enterprise, a virtual small town of merchants assembles on a day, conducts business with thousands of people, then packs up and goes home.
Great bargains are everywhere for clothing, nick nacks, antiques, novelties, toys, knives, glassware, jewelry, books, tools, optics, imported goods, shelf-stable foods and jerky, survival supplies, luggage and totes, training programs, plus political literature—sometimes with candidates attached, soap-box rhetoric, free advice and more, often available nowhere else, along with fine firearms of every description, ammunition and parts, targets and accessories for the shooting sports.
Gun-show promoters post schedules of their shows on their websites. Nearly every weekend of the year there's at least one show in the state, and sometimes three or more. Shows in rural areas tend to be smaller, that you can go though in an hour or two. The big city shows are huge affairs, some with more than 1,000 vendors present, and can take more than a day to visit completely. The biggest show in the state is the Crossraods/Small Arms Review at the Phoenix Fairgrounds just before Christmas, where you can see military vehicles, crew-fired weapons, armaments you might only otherwise see on TV, and some classic goods that cost more than a small house.
ARIZONA'S GUN SHOW PROMOTERS
(Details coming soon)
Crossroads of the West 801-544-9125
McMann's Roadrunner 602-843-5303
Firing Pin Enterprises 928-485-0437
Arizona Arms Association 520-895-3245
Gun Trader 928-684-2149
Western Collectibles and Firearms 928-486-2582, 928-772-4247