[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5165-H5166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CROWN POINT, INDIANA, GUN SHOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Quigley) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, ``Gun to the right, no gun to the left'' 
was the greeting I heard as I entered the Industrial Arts Building in 
Crown Point, Indiana. On this particular sunny Sunday afternoon in 
July, the enormous building was playing host to the Central Indiana Gun 
and Knife Show.
  The building, which sits on the Lake County Fairgrounds, plays host 
to garden shows, home improvement and craft vendors; but on this date, 
the 90-year-old brick building was featuring products that were of an 
altogether different nature.
  As they enter the gun show, visitors carrying weapons had to 
demonstrate to security that their guns were not loaded, while those 
not carrying could enter without screening. I paid my $5 entry and was 
asked if I resided in Indiana. Being an Illinois resident, I answered 
no and received a hand stamp depicting me as out of State.
  At first glance, I saw kids hanging around vendors, munching on hot 
dogs. There were several hundred people in attendance by lunchtime, 
mostly White, middle-aged men, but a few women as well. Judging by the 
license plates in the parking lot, there were a healthy number of gun 
enthusiasts from my home State of Illinois in attendance.

[[Page H5166]]

  At most tables, you could hear the hagglers looking for a better deal 
or discussing options for their purchase. They would ask: Chrome-lined 
or stainless steel barrel? What about a free-float rail? The 
possibilities seemed endless, as people wandered among dozens of 
tables.
  Sellers were offering everything from high-volume magazines and 
sophisticated scope systems to attachable bipods and customized stocks. 
Prices for assault weapons typically ranged from $600 to $2,500, 
including a bipod and two drum magazines, each capable of holding 100 
rounds. One dealer explained that the wide variation in pricing 
depended on the bells and whistles and the markup.
  Not every weapon was particularly pricey. One vendor, who seemed 
eager to reduce inventory, marked down one of his assault rifles to 
under $400. There were tables upon tables of handguns for sale, as well 
as a folding single-shot, .22-caliber rifle, small enough to fit in a 
backpack, for under $200. Still other vendors offered to help customize 
your purchase on the spot. You could choose from dozens of barrel 
lengths and styles to go with your choice in stocks and other 
components.
  There was plenty of ammo to go with any weapon you might purchase. 
Depending on the caliber and ammunition type, prices started as low as 
$10 for a box of 50. Boxes of ammunition with a similar number of 
rounds for many assault rifles cost as little as $20. Another dealer 
offered high-capacity, 50-round magazines for a gun show special of one 
for $20 or three for $55.
  There was a lot of gear aimed toward women as well, with pink, 
single-shot rifles, body armor tailored for women, and purses designed 
for concealed carry. Even local charities got on the scene, with an AR-
15 being auctioned off to benefit the Marine Corps League. All you had 
to do to be included was buy a $1 raffle ticket and give your first 
name and phone number.
  It was a surreal atmosphere within the midst of recent tragedies. It 
made me wonder if those in attendance were either oblivious or all too 
aware of those heartbreaking headlines. The gun show returns this month 
to Crown Point, but given the number of deadly weapons already on the 
streets of my hometown of Chicago, I think I will wait for the next 
home improvement show before making a return trip.

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