Texas Considers Alcohol Sales at Gun Shows

Texas could start allowing alcohol sales at gun shows provided they don't allow live ammunition or let buyers take possession of their weapons at the events. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced the proposal yesterday. It will hold a 30-day public comment period before any change is made. The proposal also would require that firearms being shown for sale be disabled and not readily convertible for use. Under current rules, if a gun show is held at a venue licensed to sell alcohol, drinks sales and consumption are suspended during the time it takes to set up, conduct, and dismantle the gun show.

"We got a request from a gun club in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to amend the rules," said agency spokeswoman Carolyn Beck. She said a decision could come as early as November, and added that fears of alcohol sales keeping concealed-handgun carriers from entering gun shows were unfounded, the Texas Tribune reports. Alice Tripp, legislative director of the The Texas State Rifle Association, called the proposal "confusing" and questioned whether gun advocates would want to attend gun shows with such restrictions. "Does that make any sense? Who would buy a gun at a gun show where you couldn't take possession of it?" she asked. "Nobody is interested in selling alcohol at a gun show." (More gun show stories.)