Indiana gun owners respond to President Obama

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The state’s largest gun show gets underway at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Friday.

The Indy 1500 Fun and Knife Show comes just a couple of weeks after President Obama blamed Indiana for gun violence on the streets of Chicago.

“I got my first rifle when I was 12 years old,” Ryan Lewis said.

Lewis is with the Anderson Rifle and Pistol Club. The group was at the show to promote gun safety.

“Bad things happen and bad people and the gun is an equalizer for a lot of people,” Lewis said.

An equalizer that gun rights advocates fear President Obama is trying to take away.

This on the heels of the President’s speech last week where he outlined his new plan for stricter regulations.

“That person that buys that gun is gonna get it one way or another,” another gun owner said.

Obama’s plan includes:

• Expanded mandatory background checks to gun shows, flea markets and online sales.
• Adds more than 230 examiners and staff to help process them.
• Calls on states to submit accurate and updated criminal history data.

“They go to a gun show in Indiana, where right now they don’t have to do a background check, load up a van and sell them to kids and gangs in Chicago,” The President said during a town hall speech.

Back in the parking lot of the gun show where american flags fly and signs that say no outside sales, Lewis doesn’t mince words.

“As long as bad guys have guns, and there’s not really a way to do I don’t think,” Lewis said. “I more support someone having the right to defend themselves especially in their own home.”The Associated Press contributed to this story.