Gun Show Vendors Have Mixed Reactions Over Beer Proposal

ENNIS (CBSDFW.COM) - The controversial proposal to allow alcohol sales at gun shows in Texas has been met with mixed reactions for gun buyers as well as vendors.

For the next month the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is accepting public comment on the idea after a gun club from the Dallas-Fort Worth area asked the state to reconsider its no alcohol rule.

"It makes absolutely no sense to me," said Mike Garrett a gun vendor from Mineola. "You are teaching people that it is okay to have a few beers and pick up a gun and walk around."

At the Ennis Gun Show on Saturday, the proposal by the state commission was a hot topic.

Kim Perrymoore, owner of Black Gun Tactical Supply, said with all the security at gun shows and if there was a drink limit, she said it could actually help sales.

She said, "I'm not real big on beer sales but I know from a business person's line of thinking, you get rid of that little bit of inhibition in people and they spend more money."

Under the proposal from the TABC, any show that would allow alcohol would have to meet three conditions: There could be no live ammunition sales, all guns would have to be disabled, and buyers would not be allowed to walk-out with their gun purchases.

Ennis Gun Show promoter Dana Wood said with all these restrictions, she thinks for promoters alcohol sales would actually backfire and decrease profits.

She said, "I think it really muddies the water."