NEWS:

Great Western Shows Challenges County of Los Angeles 'Gun Show' Ordinance in Court, Vows 'The Show Must Go On' Regardless of Outcome

Great Western Shows filed a lawsuit today against the County of Los Angeles in federal court in Los Angeles as promised, challenging the County's new ordinance prohibiting the sale of firearms or ammunition on County property, including the Fairgrounds -- for the past 22 years the site of the Great Western Show.

At the same time, in true "show business" spirit, Great Western Shows owner Karl Amelang assured the County, show exhibitors, and the public that "the show must go on."

"There will be an October show at the Fairplex from October 29 to October 31," Amelang said. "Many people believe the County Board of Supervisors, through its action this month, shut us down; but technically, they have not -- we just can't sell firearms the way the ordinance is written at this time."

"I want the public to be aware there will be a show at the end of October," he said, adding that complete information on the show is available on the Great Western Show web site at www.greatwesternshow.com.

The Great Western Show has been providing entertainment for 100,000 members of the public each year for 22 years at Fairplex in Pomona without ever having had a major incident of any kind.

The lawsuit seeks relief for violation of the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution, along with damages for deprivation of civil rights.

Constitutional issues center around both commercial free speech and non-commercial free speech.

Civil rights issues center around a variety of constitutional issues and rights and protections associated with freedom of speech and association, due process, equal protection, and protections against the impairment of contracts.

Great Western Shows is asking the court to rule that the County ordinance is invalid and unenforceable under both state and federal constitutions.

Great Western Shows also is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions restraining the County and its agents from enforcing any provisions of the ordinance.

"We are convinced more than ever that the Board of Supervisors made a grievous mistake in passing this ordinance and that justice is on our side and a legal business will not be tossed aside," Amelang said.

"When the facts come out, we will be vindicated; and the ordinance will be proven to be a costly mistake on the part of the Supervisors and a waste of the taxpayers' money," he added.

"The Great Western Show has been attacked and defamed by Los Angeles County Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky, Gloria Molina, and Yvonne Burke," Amelang said. "We at Great Western Shows are committed to fighting this injustice and this illegal ordinance with every resource we can muster."

"This action by the Board of Supervisors is an attempt to destroy the livelihood of not only Great Western Shows but of 2,000 exhibitors who come from all over the world to buy, sell, and trade all types of items such as antique firearms, military memorabilia for those who served in our armed forces, cowboy and Indian artifacts and clothing for collectors of Western Americana, clothing for outdoorsmen, fishing gear, jewelry from around the world, and many other collectibles," said Chad Seger, Show Manager.

"Less than 10 percent of the tables contain modern firearms," Seger added.

"The Great Western Show has 5,000 tables, and each of those tables is leased by the show to an individual business person," Amelang explained. "Supervisor Yaroslavsky voted to close the Show ultimately because of a single illegal transaction, conducted by way of a sting operation, allegedly performed by one of those exhibitors after the show and at an off-site location. You can compare that with closing down a 500-room hotel because a narcotics deal took place in one of the rooms."

"After 31 years of operation, with people coming to the Great Western Show from all over the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia, Supervisor Yaroslavsky, capitalizing on the recent tragedies, wants to destroy our business for his own political gain. He is casting the Great Western Show as a political scapegoat for the horrible events that have taken place in our streets and schools, which we all abhor," Amelang added. "Why doesn't he address the real issue, which is the deviant minds of the criminal element in our society today that use hammers, knives, guns, and bombs to injure and kill innocent people? Why doesn't he go after the criminals?"

The Great Western Show is the largest and most popular event held at Fairplex each year, second only to the Los Angeles County Fair itself.

Since the May show, Great Western Show management and Fairplex personnel, in conjunction with the California Department of Justice, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Pomona Police Department, have worked together to enforce very stringent rules and regulations.

The last Great Western Show took place at Fairplex in Pomona on July 9, 10, and 11 and was attended by about 10,000 people. No illegal activities were reported to the show by any law enforcement agencies.

The Great Western Show -- by attracting up to 2,000 exhibitors three times a year and drawing crowds averaging 35,000 at the two larger shows each year -- helps generate as much as an additional $8 million annually into the local economy.

Return to the GREAT WESTERN SHOW page

Great Western Shows to Defend Themselves in Court!
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