Council Approves December Gun Show in Williston

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

Williston City Council members voted on Nov. 16 to approve a temporary use permit allowing a gun show on Dec. 11 & 12 at the Dixie Lily Warehouse building.

USA Gun Shows is back for a repeat event identical to the one the company hosted in February this year at the same location. The hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

General admission is $8.

Veterans, retired and disabled law enforcement, military, and firefighters get $2 off general admission. Active-duty military, law enforcement, and firefighters are admitted free.

The city council voted unanimously to approve the gun show permit but there were questions raised by Councilman Elihu Ross prior to the vote.

Ross said the city shouldn’t allow any live ammunition at the show. He said he understood plastic bullets would be used for the concealed firearms classes. He didn’t have a problem with plastic bullets.

“That’s fine because we don’t want any live ammunition fired for any reasons because we don’t want to get in a situation like they had in Arizona where the lady got shot and nobody knows who or why,” Ross said.

City Planner Laura Jones responded that live ammunition is sold at the gun show.

“They do sell?” Ross said.

“Yes, sir,” Jones said.

“I don’t think they should,” Ross responded.

“They did last time they were out there,” responded Mayor Jerry Robinson. “They sold ammunition and had the guns out there and there was no problem.”

Resident Albert Fuller wondered if the city had done a background check on the company. He asked the same question when USA Gun Shows came to town the first time.

Jones said the Williston Police Department did a background check on the company and found no problems. She said the company has the proper insurance. She said these are the same people who do gun shows in Ocala and Crystal River.

The operators of the gun show take another precaution to ensure public safety. When visitors enter the gun show, they are asked if they are carrying a concealed handgun. If the answer is yes, they are asked to hand over the gun to the show administrator. A safety cord is tied into the gun chamber and locked to ensure it cannot fire. The owner gets the gun back when they leave the show.

Ross joined with his fellow council members in approving the gun show permit.