Gallup hasn’t had a gun show since November 2019. But Darryl Young, the owner of Blue Maverick Guns, a gun shop in Albuquerque, is changing that. Young put together the Four Corners Gun Show, which will take place on Aug. 26 and 27 at the Gallup Community Service Center at 410 Bataan Veterans St.
In an interview with the Sun, Young explained why he believes gun shows are important.
“The importance of gun shows is to help people exercise their Second Amendment right and educating people on the safety and responsibility of guns and gun shows,” Young said.
Young is familiar with guns. He spent 10 years in the military, and then worked for the government. After he retired, he began looking at gun stores and noticed they were “jacking up the prices” on guns.
“I got into [selling guns] and got into training people because I want people to learn gun safety and get the firearms they wanted and needed at a reasonable price,” Young said.
Twenty-five vendors will be featured at the show, and they will also be selling a wide variety of products, not just guns and ammo. Rifle bags, backpacks, and even jewelry will be available. Young said some vendors will also be selling bulletproof backpacks.
“With the way things are going right now, some of the kids go to school and they can have the bullet proof backpack, that way you help minimize dangers within the classroom,” Young said.
Young wants to assure everyone that his gun show will be a safe environment.
“I’m hoping they would expect that they can come in and be in a safe environment and find the training equipment that they need, the guns and everything that helps them go out and be safe with firearms,” Young said.
No ammunition or magazines will be allowed in the Community Service Center during the event. Young said people will have to leave their ammunition and magazines in the car, nothing that those are less expensive to replace than a gun.
He also mentioned other safety measures that will be in place.
“Everything is going to be tied down and monitored and [we’ll] make sure that nothing will come in that would cause a problem,” Young said.
The gun show comes just in time for fall hunting seasons. Deer season starts Sept. 1, and elk season starts Oct. 8. Turkey season will begin Nov. 1.
Young said he plans to bring many more gun shows to Gallup. Another will take place Oct. 21 and 22, and two will be held next year in April and September. He said he hopes to hold two gun shows a year.
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
