Topic: Texas Gun Shows

Darwin Bodeker, owner of Texas Gun Shows, reports that his events at the North Austin Event Center, formerly known as the Crockett Center, have been shut down. The closure occurred after the Austin Police Department and ATF allegedly pressured the property owner, HEB, to terminate the lease agreement. The venue is located on North Lamar Boulevard, a detail noted for its historical naming significance alongside the Crockett name.

Darwin Bodeker is actively seeking a new venue in or around Austin to resume Texas Gun Shows by the third week of February. A suitable location requires approximately 20,000 to 25,000 square feet of space and significant parking capacity for attendees. Closed grocery stores are identified as ideal candidates for these events due to their layout and existing infrastructure.

The Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is considering several gun control measures, including HB 367 and HB 635. Lawmakers Juan Hinojosa and Ann Kitchen are targeted for their support of these bills, which critics claim will lead to mandatory registration and eventual confiscation.

Katherine Matteson defends the presence of firearms at Mount Carmel, explaining that the group operated a legal gun show business to sustain themselves financially. She compares the Branch Davidians to the American patriots of the Revolutionary War, noting that figures like George Washington were considered traitors by the government of their time. She argues that the United States was built on gun culture and that the government now uses economic pressure to suppress dissent.

Madison shares her vision for individual housing at Mount Carmel and explains that the large building was necessary to accommodate the 100+ people living there. She defends the presence of firearms by noting the community was in the gun show business to remain financially independent. She compares the Branch Davidians to the American patriots of the Revolution who were also considered traitors by their government.