Travis County Commissioners Court to Vote on Tuesday on Future of Saxet Gun Shows

[breakingcontact]

Added second Abbott sticker to my car today. We are too quick to go after our own when they dont do everything we want all the time.

 

[Dash Riprock]

I certainly still support Abbott for governor 100%, but I'd be lying if I said this wasn't disappointing, particularly after he was so quick to speak up against the same thing a year ago. I can't see any way it would be harmful to his campaign.

 

[Dash Riprock]

What the hell kind of quote is this??

“If you use a public facility to sell guns, we really oughta have background checks done. Or don’t use the facility,” County Judge Sam Biscoe, the chairman of the commissioners, told reporters.

Texas gun show loses county venue after refusing background checks | Fox News

We "really oughta"? Seriously? We "really oughta" do a lot of things, Mr. Biscoe, but we are supposed to be a nation (or in this case, state) of LAWS, specifically so that foolish and arrogant men and women like YOU can't make up what we "really oughta" do as we go along.

Never mind the fact that probably 90% of the sales at Saxet, if not more, are through dealers who do in fact perform background checks.

Idiots.

 

[breakingcontact]

What the hell kind of quote is this??



Texas gun show loses county venue after refusing background checks | Fox News

We "really oughta"? Seriously? We "really oughta" do a lot of things, Mr. Biscoe, but we are supposed to be a nation (or in this case, state) of LAWS, specifically so that foolish and arrogant men and women like YOU can't make up what we "really oughta" do as we go along.

Never mind the fact that probably 90% of the sales at Saxet, if not more, are through dealers who do in fact perform background checks.

Idiots.

That got me too. We oughta shut down the bars to reduce drunk driving. We oughta this and we oughta that. Isnt interesting how these radical socialists take on such a folksy tone when they want to gain more power. How many times has BHO said "a lot of hard workin folks out there are hurting" before he announces more socialist solutions.

 

[Vaquero]

Did Travis county just loose a butt load of sales tax revenue?

 

[Dash Riprock]

Did Travis county just loose a butt load of sales tax revenue?

Absolutely they did. Not only for the rental of the facility (about $100,000 from what I read somewhere) but a loss of sales tax on most of the guns and other items sold the show. The state loses sales tax revenue too, which should at least perk up the Comptroller's ears.

 

[Mreed911]

Travis County Commissioners Court to Vote on Tuesday on Future of Saxet Gun S...

Absolutely they did. Not only for the rental of the facility (about $100,000 from what I read somewhere) but a loss of sales tax on most of the guns and other items sold the show. The state loses sales tax revenue too, which should at least perk up the Comptroller's ears.

A) this isn't law, this is a contract dispute

B) the county lost little sales tax revenue because the transaction is taxed where the business is located and most vendors aren't based in Travis county

C) the state only loses revenue if folks don't buy from licensed dealers elsewhere. Most folks will just purchase somewhere else.

 

[Dash Riprock]

It goes far beyond a contract dispute. Travis County is denying access to a public facility to a group which the majority of commissioners disfavor politically. They are doing so by forcing a requirement upon the disfavored group that the state has specifically said counties do not have the right to enforce. If that's not blatant discrimination, I don't know what is.

 

[Mreed911]

It goes far beyond a contract dispute. Travis County is denying access to a public facility to a group which the majority of commissioners disfavor politically. They are doing so by forcing a requirement upon the disfavored group that the state has specifically said counties do not have the right to enforce. If that's not blatant discrimination, I don't know what is.

Now I think we're in complete agreement. And while the County didn't, in fact, pass any ordinance with regards to this, there is MORE than enough other law with respect to public access and use of facilities that it could be well challenged (and should).

Since the target of the requirements is the non-FFL'ed individual citizen, would an individual citizen have standing to bring suit and fight this (perhaps as a class) or is the promoter (Saxet) the only one harmed? I honestly don't know the answer to this.

I'm certainly talking to Gerald Daughtery's office about it, not that I expect much done from an un-elected official.

 

[Anger]

Did Travis county just loose a butt load of sales tax revenue?

YEP, and also income from the rent of building. Sales tax from 400 vendors isn't to be taken lightly. Let's say each table has an average of $1000 sales. $1000*400*0.0825=33,000. I know my example is government accounting BUT as a vendor, the tables cost $65 each so I need to at least take in $1000 per table gross profits at a 10% markup to even make it worth our while. Meanwhile in the batcave, I'm sure Travis County Socialists would LOVE to spend $33,000 in sales tax revenue in BS like $1000/ea "city bikes" or $1MM "bike trails" or banning plastic bags, etc.

Tell me there's another operator like SAXET who's willing to pay the rent there 1x a month. NO. That facility will also loose the rent fee from Todd at SAXET which I'm sure isn't small. Also, those people who collect the parking "donations" are now SOL.

My question is Where's our State AG Greg Abbott and his "double barrel" lawsuit??

 

[Mreed911]

Yep, and also income from the building.

What sales tax did they lose? The vendors are based in other counties, so little to none of that goes to Travis County.

Update: see my post below. My assumption and experience were incorrect.

 

[Anger]

What sales tax did they lose? The vendors are based in other counties, so little to none of that goes to Travis County.

We pay sales tax monthly. The tax goes to the county of the sale. WE do a gun show in SA, the sales tax goes to Bexar county. Travis IS loosing a lot of revenue IMHO.

 

[Mreed911]

We pay sales tax monthly. The tax goes to the county of the sale. WE do a gun show in SA, the sales tax goes to Bexar county. Travis IS loosing a lot of revenue IMHO.

Interesting. I finally had to go research this and it turns out I'm wrong, Anger et al are right. That's a nightmare of regulation to have to remember, especially since as a consumer there are fewer and fewer places where the 2% cap isn't hit, making the rate 8.5%. So there are in fact sales taxes lost to Travis County.

That's great information for my arsenal.

 

[Mikeinhistory]

This got forwarded to me. I thought you guys would find it interesting since it has to do with our Saxtet show.

Texas: Update on SAXET Gun Shows in Travis County

On January 7, following the inaction of the Travis County Commissioners Court on renewing a contract with SAXET Gun Shows, local media began reporting that SAXET was finished in Austin. Despite these reports, the gun show promoter has continued to attempt to negotiate a contract with Travis County without imposing additional restrictions on private transfers that exceed the requirements of state and federal law. Once again, this issue will be before the Commissioners at their meeting this Tuesday, January 21. Using the contact information provided below, it is imperative that you call and email members of the Commissioners Court before 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday and politely urge them to allow gun shows to continue in Austin. Why Oppose Restrictions on Private Firearm Transfers at Gun Shows?​ ​ ​ This is just the first step toward criminalizing ALL private transfers of firearms. No background check legislation will ever be “universal” since criminals simply ignore the law. It’s an ineffective crime control proposal. In April of 2013, PoliceOne conducted a national survey of 15,000 active and retired law enforcement officers of all ranks and department sizes on the topics of gun and crime control. Nearly 80 percent said that a prohibition on private non-dealer transfers of firearms between individuals would not reduce violent crime. Current laws are not being enforced. According to a 2012 report to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 72,000 people were turned down on a gun purchase in 2010 because they did not clear a background check. Only 44 of those cases – or just .06 percent – were prosecuted. Existing laws are not even being enforced while gun control advocates are calling for expanding background checks to cover private firearms transactions. Gun shows aren’t a source of crime guns. A U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of state prison inmates who had used or possessed firearms in the course of committing their crimes found that 79 percent acquired their firearms from “street/illegal sources” or “friends and family.” This includes theft of firearms, black market purchases of stolen firearms and straw purchases. Only 1.7 percent obtained a firearm at a gun show. Most importantly, because a January 2013 internal U.S. Department of Justice memorandum summarizing so-called “gun violence” prevention strategies stated that the effectiveness of “universal background checks” depends on “requiring gun registration.” If you cannot attend this meeting on Tuesday, please call and email the Commissioners Court, using the contact information provided below, and urge each county commissioner to renew the contract with SAXET without any ineffective gun control strings attached. Samuel Brisco (County Judge) Sam.Biscoe@co.travis.tx.us (512) 854-9555 Ron Davis (Precinct 1) ron.davis@co.travis.tx.us (512) 854-9111 Bruce Todd (Precinct 2) Bruce.Todd@co.travis.tx.us (512) 854-9222 Gerald Daugherty (Precinct 3) Gerald.Daugherty@co.travis.tx.us (512) 854-9333 Margaret Gomez (Precinct 4) Margaret.Gomez@co.travis.tx.us (512) 854-9444

 

[breakingcontact]

Good stuff Mike. Thanks.

 

[Dash Riprock]

I saw Mike's update too late to craft an e-mail to the commissioners. That's probably a good thing as I would have had a hard time remaining civil.

They voted it down again. Time to meet 'em at the courthouse and sue their asses off. Greg Abbott, you're more than welcome to lead the way.

Still no deal to keep gun show at Travis County Expo Center | www.statesman.com

 

[kurt]

Sic 'em, Greg!

 

[stdreb27]

Travis County Commissioners Court to Vote on Tuesday on Future of Saxet Gun S...

B) the county lost little sales tax revenue because the transaction is taxed where the business is located and most vendors aren't based in Travis county.

This isn't true. You're supposed to file in the local your sale happens.

Which gets to be a huge pain in the butt.

Because there are 3-4 different taxing entities. Like there is for property taxes.

 

[Ranger60]

According to the news, no gun shows again.

 

[Vaquero]

Did they vote? Or was it another "no second to the motion" ?