Aside from a tentative event in November, the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa might never host another gun show.
The fairgrounds’ Board of Directors declined on Thursday to pre-approve contracts for up to five gun shows in 2022 – and if Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn’t veto a bill that would ban them at that location, the ban would take effect in the new year.
The bill from state Sen. Dave Min, which must be acted on by Oct. 10, includes an exception for contracts already signed before Jan. 1. In a meeting Thursday, fair board members voted to postpone consideration of next year’s contracts for the Crossroads of the West gun show until January; by then the issue could be moot.
Gun shows have been held at the OC fairgrounds since 1996 and have brought the venue more than $7 million in revenue over that time, according to information from fair officials. Fairgrounds CEO Michele Richards said in some years revenue has been close to $1 million, including parking and food and beverage sales.
B & L Productions, the company that puts on Crossroads of the West shows, had asked the board to consider advance approval of contracts for next year’s shows while it looks for a new venue, but the move prompted criticism the fair board was trying to make an end run around what may soon be law.
Bob Templeton, whose family owns B & L, could not be reached for comment Thursday afternoon. But Tiffany Cheuvront, an attorney representing Crossroads of the West, told board members that buyers at shows follow the same rigid standards as customers at gun stores, and that no Orange County crimes have been linked to the shows.
While board members largely debated concerns about losing revenue if the gun shows end and whether to send Newsom a letter on that topic, several residents who spoke argued political aspects of the issue.
Speaking to the board via Zoom, one man said many of the vendors at gun shows are small businesses and some focus more on hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities rather than guns. “It represents a culture of like-minded people and it’s a violation of the First Amendment if you try to cancel that.”
Another speaker pointed out Min campaigned on eliminating gun shows, so to oppose his bill and schedule more shows would go “directly against the will of the voters and the families and community that you serve.”
Fair Board member Ashleigh Aitken said she believes the OC Fair & Event Center would be able to replace gun show revenue, perhaps by putting on more of its own events rather than renting out the grounds to third parties.
A longtime board member, Aitken recalled pushing to get cigarette smoking out of the annual OC Fair, which for many is a family event. It took several years of gradual steps, she said, but ultimately plenty of fairgoers were happy with a smoking ban.
“Change is hard, but sometimes change is the right thing to do,” she said.
Fairgrounds spokeswoman Terry Moore said there’s a tentative November gun show date, but the board has not approved a contract for it.
Gov. Newsom has until Oct. 10 to sign Min’s bill. If he signs it, or approves it without signing, the bill will become law. If Newsom vetoes the bill, the fair board would likely take up 2022 gun show contracts in January.
