The ban leaves the Great Western Gun Show without the home it has had for over 30 years at the fairgrounds in Pomona   MESSAGE BOARD: Guns under fire

September 7, 1999
Web posted at: 11:44 p.m. EDT (0344 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Los Angeles County Supervisors have narrowly approved an ordinance that bans gun and ammunition sales on county-owned property.

The ban, which goes into effect October 7, targets what is billed as "the world's largest gun show," the Great Western Show, which is held on county-owned fairgrounds in Pomona four times a year.

Los Angeles County Spokeswoman Judy Hammond tells CNN that the measure passed 3-2 Tuesday, and is effective 30 days later. The county gave preliminary approval of the ordinance on August 24.

"The public should not be in the gun business," County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said. "Gun shows have become the venue of choice for illegal weapons and law enforcement said it's time to clamp down on gun sales on publicly held property."

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to ban gun sales on county-owned property

Great Western Show officials say they plan to challenge the authority of the ban.

Great Western Show spokesman Chad Seger said he plans to take the county to court, alleging breach of contract and violation of commericial and free speech rights.

The Great Western Show also will seek a temporary restraining order that will allow the show which had been planned for October 29-31 to take place as scheduled, Seger said.

"This ban will put us out of business," he said. "There are no other venues available at this point."

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