Received this note from an RSC member:
Another question for you. I do a Trading Post program where callers can call in and buy, sell, and trade items. Our restrictions include nothing over $5000.00, domestic animals under $100 or less, and a few others.
Right now, we allow calls to buy, sell and trade firearms and ammunition. I personally feel uncomfortable the most when people call in with AK47's, hundreds of rounds of ammo, etc. Right now I believe gun shows, and private sales do NOT require a 3 day background search, but I have heard the law was supposed to change this year to where all sales would require the background searches.
I would like to know how other stations with similar programs handle firearms? Is there any kind of statement from NAB or the FCC in their regard?
We have a similar program which has been airing for decades. The only Show Rules are: You can only call-in every other day and with no more than three items. And you can't advertise a 'business'. Since we are in Texas, people selling/trading guns are heard often. We have no internal rules on firearms. Never been a problem.
I can tell you that at least one small market station in Missouri flat out bans ammo and guns from their trading show. Would seem hard though to get that genie back in the bottle once you have already allowed guns and ammo on your station's program. It might be a good question for your broadcast attorney. If the answer comes back "no," then you could deflect blame.
My own opinion on this is not to allow it. OK to advertise gun shows and gun stores, but guns on trading shows no.
Our gun laws need to be more like Switzerland and less like Colorado. (where you don't dare breathe the air, particularly the People's Republic of Boulder)
